Srinagar, June 02: Militants on Wednesday shot dead a municipal councilor in Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, police said. A woman was injured in the shooting, reports said.
A police spokesman said that Rakesh Pandita, who was visiting Tral without his personal security officers, was fatally shot by militants. “Despite provided two PSOs and secured hotel accommodation in Srinagar, the said councilor went to Tral without PSOs,” said the spokesman on Twitter. “Area [has] been cordoned off and search is going on.”
#Terrorists shot dead one councillor namely Rakesh Pandita in #Tral. Despite provided 02 PSOs & secured hotel accommodation in Srinagar, the said councillor went to Tral without PSOs. Area cordoned off & search is going on. @JmuKmrPolice
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) June 2, 2021
Quoting a police officer, news agency GNS reported that Pandita, a resident of Tral Bala-C, was fired upon by three unidentified militants while he was visiting a friend at Tral Payeen.
Shocked to hear that BJP leader Rakesh Pandit has been shot dead by militants. These senseless acts of violence have brought only misery to J&K. My condolences to the family & may his soul rest in peace.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) June 2, 2021
He said Pandita died on the spot while a daughter of his friend was seriously injured in the shooting.
The woman, identified as Asifa Mushtaq, was shifted to SMHS hospital in Srinagar for treatment, said the officer.
Yet again gunmen attack a non combatant. This gun is a curse. Just ponder. Since the day this menace came into Kashmir. What have we seen. In a nut shell total disempowerment of the Kashmiri. Dear gunmen. Can u please go back where u came from. We have had enough.
— Sajad Lone (@sajadlone) June 2, 2021
Police statement:
Today at about 2215hrs, three unidentified militants fired indiscriminately upon a Municipal Councillor of Tral town namely Rakesh Pandita son of Somnath resident of Tral Bala who was visiting his friend at Tral Payeen.
In this incident Rakesh Pandita and daughter of his friend received serious gunshot injuries. Rakesh Pandita succumbed to his injuries while as another injured person has been shifted to hospital for treatment of her injuries.
It is pertinent to mention that the deceased was a protected person and two PSOs were deployed for his security and secured accommodation was also provided to him at Srinagar. However, at the time of incident he was without any security as he defied the SOPs and went to his native village without PSOs.
Police has registered a case in this regard under relevant sections of law. Investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of this crime besides why he was without any security at the time of incident. Area has been cordoned off and search in the area is going on to nab the militants involved in the attack.