Srinagar: Hundreds of people including several political leaders including National Conference president and former chief minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday visited the family of prominent chemist M L Bindroo, who was shot dead at his shop near Iqbal Park in Srinagar last evening.
Two more civilians, a non -local vendor and a cab driver were also shot dead in Lal Bazar area of Srinagar and north Kashmir’s Bandipora district respectively within an hour on Tuesday evening.
While offering his condolences to the slain’s family at his Indra Nagar residence, Abdullah recalled Bindroo as an upright man who all his life served the people of the Valley.
“He never left the valley. And every day he used to help poor people. But beasts killed him too,” he said.
Abdullah, who was in tears as he hugged Bindroo’s son, said, “Your father was a brave man. He stood against all odds and I am requesting you not to leave Kashmir like your father. God will Inshallah punish the culprits. It is unfortunate that the beast consumed him too.”
Abdullah also lost his cool when pressed to give a political statement. “Is this the moment to ask stupid question? We have lost a wonderful human being and you have no value in emotions,” he said angrily as he waded through the crowds.
Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) president Altaf Bukhari also visited the Bindroo home. “Barbaric is too small a word to describe the incident. I had a long association with Bindroo saab and it is very unfortunate that he left us this way”.
“For god sake stop bloodshed as you won’t get anything out of these acts, this is unfortunate that a man who served people throughout his life was killed in such a way. It was a death of Kashmiri and not Kashmiri Pandit. This incident made us feel ashamed,” Bukhari told reporters during his visit to the bereaved family.
CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami also visited the bereaved and said late Bindroo was an upright man who stood the test of time defying all odds and stayed in Kashmir with his brethren to serve the people. “He never asked for protection with the belief that he was safe among his own people,” Tarigami said.
He said this unfortunate killing spree must be put to an end as there is no justification for such heinous crimes. “Such brutal incidents are inhuman, unfortunate and the perpetrators have achieved nothing except adding more pain to the victim families. Each one of us must speak and raise our voice against such barbaric acts,” he said.
From the house, late Bindroo’s body was taken to the Karan Nagar crematorium where it was consigned to flames. The pyre was lit by his children.
The Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, also expressed grief over Tuesday’s killings here.
“Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz, who continues to be under illegal house arrest, expressed shock and condemned the killing of Bindroo, a leading pharmacist of the valley who had been dedicatedly serving the people of the valley for the last many decades, and two others yesterday evening,” amalgam said in a statement.
It strongly condemned all the killings, which are acts of pure violence against fellow humans and humanity.
“Hurriyat Conference extends its heartfelt condolences and sympathies with the bereaved family of Bindroo and others who have been pushed to perpetual grief at the loss of their dear one,” the statement added.
Meanwhile in Jammu, several organisations representing the Kashmiri Pandit community and some Jammu-based outfits staged anti-Pakistan protests here on Wednesday over the killing of Bindroo and two other civilians.
They demanded enhanced security for the Kashmiri Pandit community.
Activists of the Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj (YAIKS) staged a protest in Jammu over the killings and raised slogans against Pakistan.
“We demand justice. We demand punishment for culprits. This is a move to scuttle the plan of return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Hindus back in the valley,” YAIKS president R K Bhat Bhat told reporters.
Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits living in Jagti town also held a protest and demanded justice for the Bindroo family.
Activists of the Shiv Sena and the Dogra Front took out rallies in Jammu in protest against the killings.
