2 minority teachers fall prey to targeted killings in Valley

| | Jammu
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2 minority teachers fall prey to targeted killings in Valley

Friday, 08 October 2021 | Mohit Kandhari | Jammu

In a major security breach, “unidentified” terrorists shot dead a school principal and a teacher, both belonging to the minority community, inside a Government Boys Higher Secondary school located in the Idgah area of Srinagar on Thursday morning.

Gory images of both the teachers, lying in a pool of blood on the school campus, sent shock waves as they flooded various social media platforms in real-time.

After killing the duo, the terrorists fled away without facing any resistance. Teachers belonging to the minority community claimed no security personnel have been deployed across the majority of school buildings in Kashmir valley.

The Centre has condemned the targeted killing of civilians in Jammu & Kashmir and expressed concern about the cross-border terrorism.

In a press briefing on Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “What’s happening in Kashmir is strongly condemnable. Targeted killing of innocent people. We are concerned about cross-border terrorism. We will raise it at every meeting with all partners and make efforts that the international community should make in this regard.”

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level security meeting in his office to review the situation after a spate of targeted killing in Kashmir.

National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Arvind Kumar were among those present in the meeting.

The 30-minute meeting was also attended by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) chief Kuldiep Singh and Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Pankaj Singh.

According to official sources, “A group of staff members were present inside the office of the principal when ‘unidentified’ terrorists barged inside and directed the duo to step out of the office.  Soon after they stepped out, the terrorists pumped bullets from a close range killing them on the spot.

This is the second major strike on non-locals in Srinagar. Earlier on Tuesday, a Kashmiri pandit pharmacist Makhan Lal Bindroo, a street vendor from Bhagalpur in Bihar, and a local taxi union president were shot dead in a span of less than 2 hours.

The deceased principal has been identified as  Supinder Kour, resident of Alochi Bagh area of the city while the second victim was teacher Deepak Chand, a resident of Jammu.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha strongly reacted to the killing of two teachers. Addressing a press conference in Srinagar LG said, “A befitting reply will be given to perpetrators of the heinous terror attacks on innocent people. Terrorists and their patrons will not succeed in disturbing peace, progress and prosperity of J&K”.

To another specific question LG said, “We had no such specific inputs. Yes we take responsibility for it.  This is part of a well-thought-out conspiracy in the backdrop of increasing tourist influx and planned industrial investment in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, a series of attacks on the members of the minority community has created a sense of insecurity among the Kashmiri pandits and non-locals working there in different parts of Kashmir valley.

Soon after the news of the targeted killing of school teachers went viral on social media platforms, the majority of Kashmiri migrant Government employees returned to safer locations and went into huddle to decide their future course of action.

A senior Kashmiri pandit schoolteacher told The Pioneer over telephone, “We are ready to return home. We are going to pack our bags and come back to Jammu. We are feeling insecure in the wake of a series of targeted killings of members belonging to the minority community”.

Meanwhile, the Resistance Front (TRF) terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Police were also quoted as saying that the TRF had killed the two teachers.

DGP Dilbagh Singh who along with senior police officials visited the school premises told reporters, “This is a conspiracy to target the local ethos and values and defame local Kashmiri Muslims. This is being done on instructions from agencies in Pakistan”.

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also condemned the attack on Twitter: “Shocking news coming in again from Srinagar. Another set of targeted killings, this time of two teachers in a Govt school in Idgah area of the city. Words of condemnation are not enough for this inhuman act of terror but I pray for the souls of the deceased to rest in peace.”

The Jammu Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the attack. “Terrible news of killing of two teachers in Srinagar coming to fore. When will this dance of death come to an end? Will the administration stop trumpeting the hollow slogans of ‘normalcy’ now. Deepest condolences with the families,” the party tweeted.

A Pall of gloom descended on the family of Deepak Chand soon after they learned about his killing at the hands of terrorists inside the school premises in Srinagar.

A close relative of Deepak told The Pioneer that before leaving for school in the morning he called his wife and wished her Happy Navratas. Deepak was also observing fast and inquired about all other family members.

Sitting in the company of close relatives Deepak’s wife was inconsolable. She was repeatedly asking why Deepak was killed. He was very gentle. “No one should go to Kashmir. Terrorists will kill you if you go there”. She also asked, “Why was he not transferred if there was a security threat?

A cousin claimed Deepak paid the price for being a Hindustani and a devout Hindu.  He said, “I don’t know anything about politics. I don’t want to comment on who is right and who is wrong. All I know no one will stand with our family. “No human rights activist will raise his/her voice and register a strong protest”.

“I challenge them if they will look at the innocent face of his young daughter they will feel ashamed of themselves,” he said

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