Suspected terrorists belonging to The Resistance Force (TRF) executed a targeted killing in Srinagar, resulting in the death of a 31-year-old Sikh shopkeeper from Punjab. This incident, which took place in the densely populated Shaheed Gunj locality of Srinagar, marks the first targeted killing in 2024. The attack, carried out with an AK-47 assault rifle, also represents the first assault on non-Kashmiris in Jammu and Kashmir this year. The victim, identified as Amritpal Singh, worked as a dry fruit seller in the old city area of Habba Kadal. He was accompanied by his friend, Rohit, on their way to their rented accommodation in Srinagar after a visit to their hometown Amritsar. They were attacked by terrorists believed to be associated with TRF, which is a covert branch of the Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Amritpal died on the spot, whereas Rohit sustained critical injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment at SMHS hospital in Srinagar.
Reports suggest that using an AK-47 in this attack is unusual, as militants typically prefer small firearms that can be easily concealed in populated areas. Security forces have launched a manhunt to apprehend the attackers, and the entire area has been cordoned off for investigations. This incident has raised concerns regarding the resurgence of targeted killings of non-native individuals in the Kashmir valley. In 2023, such attacks were relatively rare, with militants primarily targeting off-duty police officers, except for an incident in which a migrant laborer from Uttar Pradesh was shot dead in Pulwama, South Kashmir. In the past, militants have often targeted soft targets such as migrant workers, who form the seasonal workforce engaged in labor-intensive tasks on farms and construction sites. Notably, last year, multiple targeted attacks resulted in the deaths of at least ten laborers and four Kashmiri Pandits in the union territory.
This incident follows previous targeted killings, including the murder of Supinder Kour, a Sikh principal, and Deepak Chand, a Kashmiri Pandit teacher, in downtown Srinagar in 2021. Leaders from the National Conference, Farooq Abdullah, and Omar Abdullah, have condemned the attack, emphasizing the importance of a society free from violence and calling for progress and peace.
