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Kulgam: A Hindu teacher was shot dead by militants at Gopalpora area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam on Tuesday, police said.
A police official said that militants fired at a female teacher from a close range outside the High School Gopalpora Kulgam, leaving her severely wounded.
“She was immediately shifted to district hospital Kulgam where doctors declared her brought dead. The teacher was shot in her head,” the official said. The slain was identified as 36-year-old Rajni Bala, a teacher by profession from Badheri area of Samba district of Jammu.
She was recruited under the Schedule Caste (SC) quota five-years ago. She along with her husband were posted in Goplapora area of Kulgam and were living in a rented accommodation in Chawalgaam area of Kulgam.
Immediately after the attack, security officials including police, CRPF, and the army rushed to the area to take stock of the situation.
The security forces personnel laid siege around the area and launched a cordon and search operation to track down the militants responsible for the attack.
A police spokesman in a statement issued on Tuesday said that at about 10:35 am, police received information about a crime incident near Government High School Gopalpora area of Kulgam district where militants had fired upon a Hindu lady teacher identified as Rajni Bala, 36-year-old, wife of Raj Kumar, resident of Samba, Jammu (at present Chawalgam Kulgam).
“She had received critical gunshot injuries and was evacuated to hospital however, she succumbed,” the police spokesman said.
Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and initiated investigation. “Officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of the crime and militants involved in this gruesome crime will be soon identified and neutralized.
“The whole area has been cordoned off with the help of reinforcement and search in the area is going on,” the spokesman said. “This is the seventh targeted killing in Kashmir in the month. While three of the victims were off-duty policeman, four were civilians which includes a Kashmiri Pandit employee, a woman artist, a wine shop employee.”
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj condemned the killing of woman teacher by “militants inside a government building as he said that the assailants will be given an “unforgettable response.” In his tweet Lt Governor said that militanty attack on a school teachers Rajni Bala is the most reprehensible act. He in his tweet extended deepest condolences to the bereaved family and reiterated that militants and their sympathisers will be given unforgettable response for “dastardly attack.”
Veteran Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad also condemned the killing of the school teacher in Kulgam. “I am pained to learn about the heart wrenching incidents of targeted killing of two women in Kashmir within one week, Amreen Bhat and Rajani Bala. I strongly condemn the killing of Rajani Bala,” Azad tweeted. “I urge the administration to take stringent measures to safeguard the lives of innocent civilians. I express my sympathies with the bereaved families,” he added.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (JKNC) Vice President Omar Abdullah said, “A government teacher working in Kulgam area of South Kashmir, she lost her life in a despicable targeted attack.”
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said despite the Centre’s claims of normalcy in Kashmir, targeted killings were on the rise. “Despite GOIs fake claims about Kashmir being normal, it’s obvious that targeted civilian killings are on the rise & a deep cause of concern (sic). Condemn this act of cowardice which sadly plays into the vicious anti-Muslim narrative spun by BJP,” she tweeted.
Condemning the killing of the woman teacher Chairman Jammu & Kashmir People’s Democratic Front (J&K PDF) and former Minister Hakeem Yaseen has termed killing of the lady teacher a heinous crime adding that perpetrators of the barbaric act shall have to face the wrath of Allah.PDF Chairman while expressing serious concern over the spree in civilian killings said ,” enough is enough , how long innocents will continue to be killed like ducks by the bullets from either side ,. He has urged for an early end to the ongoing bloodshed adding that violence has no space in a civilized society. ” wether it is a cop or a civilian ,both ways it was innocent people and their families whose lives get devastated and become victims of the ongoing naked dance of bloodshed and violence ,” Hakeem Yaseen added . . He said history was testimony that violence brings only death and destruction adding that spree in killings of soft targets by the unidentified gunmen has spread a chilling awave of insecurity among the people . He said unabated killings of soft targets was a cause of serious concern .
Hakeem Yaseen said due to made race of targetted killing , the common people all over Jammu and Kashmir feel totally helpless and insecure .
Hakeem Yaseen has urged the government to take concerted steps for the safety and security of people . He said said mere condolence messages and visiting homes of victims of gun was not enough to heal wounds of bereaved families .
Hakeem Yaseen has conveyed his heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul .
