A municipal councillor was shot dead by terrorists at Tral in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district late on Wednesday evening, police said.
Police sources said three unidentified terrorists fired upon BJP municipal councillor, Rakesh Pandita when he was visiting his friend at Tral Payeen. Pandita succumbed to his injuries whereas the daughter of his friend is seriously wounded.
Police said Pandita was residing in a secure accommodation at Srinagar and was provided two Personal Security Officers (PSOs) but did not take them on his Tral visit. Police and security forces have cordoned the area and massive search operation has been launched to nab the assailants.
Hours after Pandita was shot dead, IG Kashmir Vijay Kumar issued an advisory on Thursday asking the protected persons not to go anywhere without PSOs and assessment of the local threat.
When terrorists attacked Pandita, police was dealing with another situation inside the SOG camp in Tral town where a surrendered terrorist, Mohammad Amin had injured a policeman after snatching his rifle when Amin was being questioned. Amin had later taken refuge in a room inside the camp. Police said after repeated persuasion to lay down his weapon failed, the terrorist was shot dead.
This is the third killing of a councillor in Kashmir this year. On March 30, terrorists had stormed the office of the Sopore Municipal Council and killed two councillors, also belonging to the BJP.
Terrorists have also targeted elected panchs and sarpanchs, especially in South Kashmir. Last June, Ajay Pandita (Bharti), an elected leader of a local village administrative committee from Anantnag, was shot dead by Islamic terrorists.
Mainstream media outlets like Indian Express continue to water drown these terrorist acts by attributing them to ‘militants’.
(With IANS inputs)
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