The sister of the murdered Kashmiri Pandit Puran Bhat said Hindus were not safe in the Kashmir Valley, nor could Muslim neighbors protect them. Bhat, 56, was killed by a terrorist group on Saturday.
New Delhi,UPDATED: 16 Oct 2022 14:43 IST
The remains of Kashmiri Pandit Puran Bhat were brought to Jammu from Shopian from South Kashmir. (Image: ANI)
By India Today Web Desk: The targeted assassination of Kashmiri Pandit Puran Krishan Bhat shocked the nation on Saturday. Hours after his murder, the terror outfit Freedom Fighters in Kashmir claimed responsibility for the attack and even hinted at many more similar cases to come.
On Sunday, the family of 56-year-old Bhat performed his last rituals in Jammu after his remains were transferred from the Shopian district of South Kashmir. Amid lofty slogans against the recent spate of targeted killings, oppression of minorities in the valley, terrorism and Pakistan, the images of Bhat’s family were chilling.
He leaves behind his 41-year-old wife, a daughter and a son. Both his children are school-aged students; the daughter is in class V while the son is reading in class VII. Sources said Bhat had gone to his ancestral property in Shopian to attend the apple orchard.
In an exclusive interview with India Today, Bhat’s sister Neelam said: “Hindus are not safe in the Kashmir Valley. Even our Muslim neighbors say they cannot protect us.”
‘TERRORISTS WILL KILL ALL KASHMIRI PANDITS’
The sister said terrorists had looked for opportunities to kill Hindus in the area. She said: “A few weeks ago, terrorists stormed into a school looking for three Hindu teachers. Fortunately, the Hindu teachers were not on site.”
“I advise all Hindus to leave the valley. Terrorists will kill all Kashmiri pandits,” she said.
She said that her brother was unsure during a telephone conversation on Friday. “I spoke to my brother on Friday evening. He felt insecure.”
“We told him to flee the valley, but he said he had to raise money for his children’s education by selling apples,” she said, adding: “Terrorists were looking for an opportunity to kill Hindus in our area. “
She shared the question of her next of kin saying, “I appeal to pm modi & hm amit shah to ensure the safety of Kashmiri Pandits. Puran Bhat’s wife should get a government job.”
KILLED ANOTHER KASHMIRI PANDIT
On October 15, Kashmiri Pandit Puran Bhat was shot by terrorists in Shopian on Saturday.
The Kashmiri Pandit initially suffered bullet injuries in the terror attack in South Kashmir’s Shopian district. The victim was rushed to the district hospital in Shopian, where he succumbed to serious injuries.
Puran Krishan Bhat was attacked outside his home on Saturday morning.
“Terrorists fired on a civilian (minority) Shri Puran Krishan Bhat while he was on his way to the orchard in Chowdari Gund of Shopian. He was immediately taken to hospital for treatment, where he succumbed. Area cordoned off. Search in progressKashmir zone police said.
In the terror group’s press release, the Kashmir Freedom Fighters referred to “attacks on Kashmiri Pandits and non-coals” and said the killing resulted from the repeal of Article 370, which revoked J&K’s special status.
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