Kashmir Valley has witnessed at least 16 targeted killings, including police officials, teachers and sarpanches, since January this year.
J&K Police DGP said in a report that those targeting minorities, civilians and people in government are “only propagating fear, since local residents have stopped responding to their diktat”.
DGP said that by attacking members from different parts of the Valley and from different sections of the society, “the terrorists want to show their presence”. By attacking people whose “right to residence in Kashmir is questioned by terrorists, they are creating (an) atmosphere for Kashmiris to be attacked outside the UT”, he said.
The episodes of targeted killings spiked after February 2021, when the son of the proprietor of Krishna Dhaba in Srinagar was shot inside his restaurant. He succumbed to gunshot injuries at the hospital two days later.
