Continuing their spree of targeted killing of members of a minority community, terrorists on Tuesday shot dead a Kashmiri Pandit and wounded his brother in an apple orchard in the Chotigam area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district.

Reports said that terrorists, in yet another incident of targeted killing shot, dead Sunil Kumar, son of Arjun Nath, and seriously wounded his brother Pintu Kumar who has been rushed to hospital for treatment.

Confirming the incident, the police said, “Terrorists fired upon civilians in an apple orchard in the Chotipora area of Shopian. One person died while another was injured in the attack. Both belong to the minority community. The injured person has been shifted to a hospital. The area has been cordoned off”.

Further details were awaited.

Reacting to the incident, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha warned that terrorists responsible for barbaric act won’t be spared.

“Pained beyond words on despicable terror attack on civilians in Shopian… My thoughts are with the family of Sunil Kumar. Praying for speedy recovery of injured. The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone”, he said.

Cutting across party lines, political leaders have condemned the attack. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tweeted: “I condemn the militant attack in Shopian unequivocally in which Sunil Kumar was killed & Pinto Kumar injured”.

Blaming the Centre for such incidents, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said, “GOI continues to behave like an ostrich with its head buried deep under the sand. Every resident of J&K has become cannon fodder in Delhi’s quest for manufactured normalcy.”

Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone and Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari have also condemned the attack.

JK Peace Forum leader and a Kashmiri Pandit, Satish Mahaldar, in a statement, pointed out that the vicious attacks mark a low point on an ongoing fragile peace and reconciliation process facilitated by local stakeholders as well as JK Peace Forum as part of peace building and development efforts. “To ensure durable peace and reconciliation, it is vital to address the underlying issues and causes of targeted killings,” he said.

Escalating attacks during the Independence Day celebrations, on Monday evening they targeted a minority community person in Budgam where they tossed a grenade in Gopalpora Chadoora area in which one civilian, Karan Kumar Singh, got injured. He has been shifted to Srinagar hospital for treatment where his condition is stated to be stable. The area was cordoned by security forces but terrorists managed to escape.

Meanwhile, a J&K Police constable, Sarfaraz Ahmad, who was injured during an anti-terrorist operation in downtown Srinagar on Sunday evening, succumbed to his wounds on Monday night.  Sarfraz belonged to Batote in the Ramban district of Jammu.

While the country was celebrating the Independence Day, terrorists last night hurled a grenade at Police Control Room Kashmir, in Srinagar, resulting in minor injuries to one police personnel. The area was immediately cordoned off.

Former Chief Minister Mehbooba mufti also paid her condolences trough tweet.

People’s Conference Chief Sajad Lone tweeted: “Yet another dastardly attack by coward terrorists in Shopian. We strongly condemn this heinous act of violence. My condolences to the family,”

BJP J&K spokesperson Altaf Bukhari in a statement said terror has no religion and terrorists should be punished.