Two Kashmiri Pandit Brothers Shot At By Terrorists In Shopian, One Dies

One passed away, and the injured person has been rushed to the hospital in severe condition, the Kashmir Police said.

Representational Image. (Source: File Photo)

Two Kashmiri pandit brothers were shot and critically injured in the Shopian's hamlet of Chotigam. Both were identified as Sunil Kumar and Pintoo Kumar, of which one passed away, and the injured person has been rushed to the hospital in severe condition, the Kashmir Police said.

The mortal remains of deceased Sunil Kumar Bhat have been brought to his residence in Shopian, news agency ANI reported.

Jammu & Kashmir | Mortal remains of Sunil Kumar Bhat brought to his residence in Shopian. He was shot dead by terrorists today. pic.twitter.com/llTIBVdpu8

— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2022

Taking to Twitter, Kashmir Police Zone said: "Terrorist fired upon civilians in an apple orchard in Chotipora area of Shopian. One person died and one injured. Both belong to minority community. Injured person has been shifted to hospital. Area cordoned off. Further details shall follow."

#Terrorists fired upon civilians in an apple orchard in Chotipora area of #Shopian. One person died and one injured. Both belong to minority community. Injured person has been shifted to hospital. Area #cordoned off. Further details shall follow.@JmuKmrPolice

— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) August 16, 2022

The president of the J&K unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Ravinder Raina stated: "Pakistan wants to turn Kashmir into graveyards but we won't allow it to fulfill its nefarious designs. Those involved in targetting the Kashmiri Pandits in the area of Shopian will be taken to task, they will definitely be punished." 

No Kashmiri Pandit Left Valley In 2022: Govt To Rajya Sabha

In July, the centre informed Rajya Sabha that six Kashmiri Pandits were killed by militants since 2020. Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai also said that no Kashmiri Pandit migrated from the Valley in 2022. 

"As per the records, no Kashmiri Pandit has left from the Kashmir Valley during the year 2022. The number of Kashmiri Pandits who are still residing in the valley is 6,514," MoS Home Nityanand Rai told Rajya Sabha.

"The number of Kashmiri Pandits killed by militants in Jammu and Kashmir during the years 2020, 2021 and 2022, are 1, 4 and 1 respectively," he further said.

Targeted Killings In Kashmir

However, since the assassination of Rahul Bhat by terrorists on May 12 in the Chadoora region of Budgam district in central Kashmir, scores of Kashmiri Pandits who were engaged under a prime minister's package in 2012 have voiced their concerns regarding their safety in the valley. 

Earlier on June 2, two people were slain in Kashmir: a bank employee and a brick kiln labourer, while another was injured in two separate instances.

Terrorists killed a lady teacher from Jammu's Samba district on May 31 at a school in south Kashmir's Kulgam district. Terrorists invaded a wine shop in Baramulla, North Kashmir, on May 18 and tossed a grenade, killing one Jammu resident and injured three others.

On May 24, police officer Saifullah Qadri was shot dead outside his home in Srinagar, while TV artist Amreen Bhat was killed two days later in Budgam.