The migrant worker shot dead by terrorists in South Kashmir’s Anantnag on Wednesday was targeted to refute the normalcy narrative in the Valley, top Intelligence sources have told CNN-News18.
The sources said the incident was a hybrid killing as a pistol was used to kill the non-local vendor from close range, whereas terrorists use big arms to kill from a distance.
“The reason behind the killing is to create panic in the Valley during elections. They want to refute the narrative of normalcy in the Valley,” they said.
The sources added that the terrorists do not want the Indian government narrative to succeed that the situation is under control in the Valley.
“The Narendra Modi government has been successful in cracking down on terror and arresting the Over-Ground Worker network in the Valley. In this shrinking terror environment, they want to kill the non-locals and create panic,” they added.
The sources also said more killings are being planned as the apple cultivation season is approaching.
Bihar’s Raja Shah, who was shot by militants at Jablipora Bijbehara village, succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday. A Telegram channel that carries propaganda from The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy outfit of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack. The terror organisation has termed the killing as a “gift for your elections”.
The targeted attack on a non-local came just two days before phase 1 of the Lok Sabha Election 2024. Earlier, on April 8, terrorists had shot and injured a non-local tourist cab driver in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.
The Anantnag attack was condemned by political parties with National Conference president Farooq Abdullah asserting that such incidents will hinder peace. “JKNC President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and VP @OmarAbdullah express shock and sadness at the news of Rajshah Ji’s death, who succumbed to grievous injuries after being shot at in Bijbehara today. They vehemently condemn the attack, emphasizing that such acts of terror hinder peace in J&K,” the NC posted on X.
Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti called it a “senseless act of violence”. “My deepest condolences to his family,” she added.
BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir spokesperson Altaf Thakur also condemned the killing. “Such acts reflect frustration of adversaries and these acts will in no way revive election boycott politics in Kashmir. Urge police to track down the killers of this innocent man and punish them sternly,” he said.
Democratic Progressive Azad Party chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad said people must stand together against such an act. “Strongly condemn the tragic Bijbehara attack in which a non-local named Raja Shah of Bihar lost his life in this senseless act of violence… This must end, people want peace but militants don’t want peace. We must stand together against this act!” Azad said on X.
Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone denounced the “senseless violence” and said such acts of brutality have no place in a civilised society.
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