Rahul Bhat’s Killing | J&K LG Orders Probe On Tear Gas Shelling Against Protesting Kashmiri Pandits: Govt Sources

The protestors blocked roads and raised slogans against Lieutenant Governor Sinha outside the camp housing Pandit government employees in Sheikhpora.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha (Image: Twitter @manojsinha_)

New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has ordered an inquiry on tear gas shelling against the protesting Kashmiri Pandits. Strict action will be taken against the officials involved in the action, news agency ANI reported government sources as saying. This comes a day after the police fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters marching towards the Srinagar airport over the killing of Rahul Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit government employee, by the militants even as protests by the community continued in the Sheikhpora area of Budgam.

The protestors blocked roads and raised slogans against Lieutenant Governor Sinha outside the camp housing Pandit government employees in Sheikhpora.

Demanding justice for Bhat, the protests witnessed participation from the government employees and families of Kashmiri Pandits living in Budgam.

Earlier on Friday, the Lieutenant Governor promised a job for Bhat’s wife, financial assistance for the family and educational expenses for their daughter.

“J&K administration to provide a government job to Rahul Bhat's wife in Jammu and financial assistance to the family. The government will bear educational expenses of the daughter,” Sinha tweeted.

“A decision has been taken to constitute special investigative team to probe all the aspects of the despicable terror attack. The SHO of the concerned police station has also been attached,” he wrote on the micro-blogging platform.

The terrorists fired upon Bhat, a clerk in the Tehsildar’s office in the Chadoora area in Budgam district, earlier on Thursday.

The terrorists barged in and opened fire on him at point-blank range while he was working in his office.

He was admitted to a hospital, but lost his life during treatment.

Meanwhile, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation met the Lieutenant Governor in Srinagar regarding the security of Kashmiri Pandits and people from the minority communities in the valley.

“We had discussion with the LG on the way Kashmiri Pandits are targeted by Pakistan terrorists. Such government employees working in Kashmir’s terrorism affected areas must be transferred to safer zones,” ANI quoted Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina as saying.

“The LG said he will make nodal cell ensuring their safety,” he added.