Jammu & Kashmir National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tweeted a photo of Bhat and condemned the attack. He also reminded his followers that targeted killings are continuing in Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu: The Kashmir Zone Police on Thursday tweeted that terrorists have allegedly gunned down a Kashmiri Pandit identified as Rahul Bhat in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district.
In a series of tweets, the Kashmir Zone Police said, “#Terrorists fired upon one employee namely Shri Rahul Bhat from #minority community in Tehsildar office Chadoora, #Budgam. He has been shifted to hospital.@JmuKmrPolice”
It added, “The #injured was immediately brought to SMHS Hospital, Srinagar for treatment where he #succumbed to his injuries. Preliminary investigation reveals that 02 #terrorists are #involved in this #heinous crime & have used pistol for committing this crime. @JmuKmrPolice”
Meanwhile, tweeting a photograph of Bhat, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said, “I unequivocally condemn the murderous militant attack on Rahul Bhatt. Rahul was a government employee working in the Tehsil office in Chadoora where he was attacked. Targeted killings continue & a sense of fear grows unchecked. My heartfelt condolences to Rahul’s family. RIP. This young man had his entire life ahead of him & to know that his life was so cruelly extinguished today is tragic. Rest in peace Rahul Bhatt.”
The attack on Bhat came a day after two separate encounters in J&K’s Bandipora and Anantnag districts. The targeted killings had started in October last year, the victims being mostly migrants from outside Jammu and Kashmir who came in search of jobs and indigenous Kashmiri pandits.
In October, seven civilians were killed in five days — among them a Kashmiri Pandit, a Sikh and two non-local Hindus.
