Hours after the killing of a banker from Rajasthan by a terrorist in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam, two non-local labourers were shot at in Magraypora, Chadoora area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Thursday, 2 June.
One of the non-locals, identified as Dilkhush Kumar from Arnia in Bihar, succumbed to his injuries in Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital.
Dilkhush used to work at a brick kiln at Magraypora.
Guri, who was also injured in the attack, has been discharged from the hospital.
Personnel carry the body of Dilkhush Kumar who was shot dead in Kashmir's Budgam on 2 June.
(Photo: Muneeb-ul-Islam/The Quint)
Police had cordoned off the area and were looking for the terrorists involved in the incident, which took place at 9.10 pm on Thursday.
This is the third targeted attack in the Valley in three days and comes just two days after Rajni Bala, a Hindu teacher from Jammu, was shot down by terrorists outside a school in Kulgam.
This was the second targeted killing of the day in the Valley. Earlier, terrorists had shot dead a bank manager of Elaqui Dehati bank in Kulgam.
Political Leaders Condemn Attack
Political parties condemned the attack on migrant labourers, saying there was a “total breakdown of law and order” in the union territory.
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) also condemned the attack.
“We express serious concern over a situation moving fast towards a crisis wherein no citizen can be considered safe,” the party said.
JKNC vice-president Omar Abdullah also condemned the attack.
“Second tweet today to condole the targeted killing of another non-local. Dilkhush, who was here from Bihar to earn a living, was shot & killed earlier this evening. While condemning this killing in the strongest possible terms I send my condolences to his family,” he wrote on Twitter.
People's Conference said the cycle of death must end.
Bihar Minister Jibesh Kumar condemned the incident on Friday, saying, "It's saddening, I express my condolences to the deceased's kin. Our officials are in continuous touch with the J&K government. Body, currently in a J&K hospital for post-mortem, will be taken to his residence by our department after it arrives at Bihar airport," reported ANI.
"We talked to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir (Manoj Sinha) and he has assured us that strict action will be taken against the guilty organisation/ group," he added.
Bihar CM Announces Ex Gratia Sum of Rs 2 Lakh for Kin
Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex gratia sum of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of the deceased, as well as benefits from the state's welfare schemes.
"Saddened by the killing of Dilkhush Kumar ji of Bihar in the terrorist attack in Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Rs 2 lakh will be given to his immediate dependent from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Apart from this, other benefits will be given as per rules from the schemes run by Labor Resource Department and Social Welfare Department," the CM said in a tweet in Hindi.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI.)
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