Jammu and Kashmir: BJP councillor Rakesh Pandita shot dead by terrorists in Tral

A municipal councillor of the BJP was shot useless by three unidentified terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Tral on Wednesday. A daughter of his good friend additionally obtained severe gunshot accidents and is being handled in a hospital. “Rakesh Pandita succumbed to accidents whereas the girl is significantly wounded,” a police assertion mentioned. Rakesh Pandita was the chairman of the Tral Municipal Committee. He was staying at a Srinagar authorities lodging underneath police safety resulting from a militant menace. Pandita had been assigned two Private Safety Officers (PSOs). In accordance with the police, Pandita left his safety officers behind whereas going to Tral which is his hometown.

“Regardless of being supplied with 2 PSOs and secured resort lodging in Srinagar, the mentioned councillor went to Tral with out PSOs. The world has been cordoned off and a search operation is underway,” mentioned Kashmir IG Vijay Kumar.

IG Kumar urged protectees to not exit with out their PSO. “No protectee ought to go wherever with out PSOs. Visits are allowed solely after floor evaluation of native threats is finished. We request all protectees to not violate SOPs and danger their lives unnecessarily,” he mentioned.

That is the third killing of a councillor in Kashmir this yr. On March 30, some terrorists had stormed the workplace of the Sopore Municipal Council and killed two councillors belonging to the BJP and a policeman.

Terming the assault a ‘barbaric’ incident, BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur mentioned that such assaults gained’t deter celebration leaders from serving the folks.

Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina mentioned that the martyrdom of Rakesh Pandita won’t go in useless. “The terrorists inflicting a massacre in Kashmir Valley shall be eradicated. It’s a homicide of humanity and Kashmiriyat,” he mentioned.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh additionally condemned the assault. “Deeply shocked by the deadly terror assault on Municipal Councillor of Tral, Pulwama, Rakesh Pandita. A particularly dastardly and inhuman act by those that don’t want grassroot democracy to achieve floor in Kashmir Valley! My deep condolences to the household,” he mentioned.

Former Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti mentioned that these mindless acts of violence have introduced solely distress to Jammu and Kashmir.

Folks’s Convention chief Sajad Lone mentioned that the valley had sufficient of the massacre. “But once more gunmen assault a non combatant. This gun is a curse. Simply ponder. For the reason that day this menace got here into Kashmir. What have we seen. In a nut shell whole disempowerment of the Kashmiri. Pricey gunmen. Are you able to please return the place you got here from. We have now had sufficient,” he mentioned, condemning the assault.