Srinagar: A migrant worker from Bihar was shot dead by militants in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, police said on Friday.
The attack took place around midnight, they said.
“During the intervening night of 11-12 August, at about 0015 hrs terrorists fired upon a labourer identified as Mohammad Amrez, son of Mohammad Jalil, resident of Madhepura Besarh Bihar, at Soadnara Sumbal area of District Bandipora,” police spokesman said in a statement.
Spokesman said Amrez received critical gunshot injuries and was immediately evacuated to nearby hospital for treatment, however, he succumbed to his injuries.
Mohammad Tamheed, who identified himself as Amrez’s brother, said they were sleeping when they heard gunshots around 12:20 am.
“We were sleeping and it was 12:20 am when my younger brother woke me up, saying some shots were fired. I told him such things happen, so sleep. But he told me that he will take a look as another brother was not in the room.
“He went downstairs and saw him (Amrez) covered in blood. We called the Army. They came and took him to Hajin. The doctors there told us to take him to Srinagar, but he succumbed on the way,” Tamheed said.
Tamheed and Amrez’s colleagues appealed to the government to help them take his body back to Bihar.
Apni Party leader and former MLA of Bandipora Usman Majid condemned the attack.
“I strongly condemn the killing of non-local labourer Mohd Amrez in #Saudnara area of District #Bandipora. Killing innocents is in no way bravery, but a pure cowardly attack which deserves the highest form of condemnation. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family,” he wrote on Twitter.
Amrez is the fourth non-local to be killed in a targeted attack in Kashmir this year. A total of 14 civilians and six security forces personnel have been killed in targeted attacks this year.
In January, one policeman was killed in a targeted attack in Anantnag. February saw no such killing.
March saw the highest of seven such killings — five civilians and an on-leave CRPF personnel in Shopian and a special police officer (SPO) in Budgam. The brother of the SPO also lost his life in the same attack.
In April, two civilians, including a Sarpanch, were killed, while in May, five persons — two cops and three civilians — were killed. The civilians were Rahul Bhat, a government employee recruited under the Prime Minister’s special package for Kashmir Pandits, TV actor Amreen Bhat, and teacher Rajini Bhala.
In June, a non-local bank manager and a non-local labourer were shot dead by militants, while a sub-inspector of police was also killed.
Two non-local labourers have been killed so far in August.
