J&K: Amusement Park Worker Shot Dead by Suspected Militants in South Kashmir

Srinagar: A civilian, who worked at a private amusement park, was shot dead by suspected militants on Monday night in South Kashmir’s Janglaat Mandi of Anantnag district that triggered condemnation.

According to Kashmir Zone Police, the victim identified as Deepu was a resident of Jammu’s Udhampur district. Following the attack, the police launched a massive search operation to track the attackers.

“Terrorists fired upon one civilian namely Deepu R/O Udhampur working at private circus mela at amusement park near Janglaat Mandi in Anantnag. He was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Case registered, investigation going on,” the police tweeted.

The killing of Deepu comes a week after a high-profile meeting of G 20 nations was held in the region amidst intensive security arrangements. The attack drew condemnation from the regional political leadership some of whom slammed the central government for failing to secure Jammu and Kashmir.

“Pained by the news of yet another targeted attack against a civilian in Anantnag area of South Kashmir. The murder of Deepak who worked with a travelling circus to earn an honest living is an abomination and I condemn this militant attack unreservedly. May Deepak’s soul rest in peace,” former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted.

His party Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) whilst condemning the attack in a statement stated that such “reprehensible acts of violence are roadblocks to peace in our country and blots on the idea of humanity”.

President of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti while expressing grief over the killing of the youth alleged that the government of India (GOI) has failed in the region.

“Deeply anguished by yet another attack on an innocent civilian in Anantnag. Deepu eked out his living by working at an amusement park. My heart goes out to his family in this hour of grief. This speaks volumes about GOI’s policy which have been a monumental failure in J&K,” Mufti tweeted.

The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) led administration has often been criticised by the regional leaders for its iron-fist policies and have since the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35 A in 2019 warned of deteriorating situation. The authorities, however, have been claiming that the militancy has been nearly routed and the situation has improved significantly.

The latest attack in Anantnag is one of the many attacks against civilians and security forces reported since January this year in which nearly nine persons have died including two minors in Rajouri district on January 2. On February 26, suspected militants killed a civilian Sanjay Sharma from the region’s minority Hindu community near his residence in Litter area of Pulwama.

According to official data, militants are believed to have carried as many as 29 targeted attacks in Kashmir in 2022 including J&K: on panchayat members, policemen, non-local labourers and individuals from the minority communities. The number of active militants is also believed to be lowest currently since the insurgency began more than 30 years ago.