SRINAGAR: Condemnations against the killing of two teachers who were shot dead by unknown gunmen, suspected to be militants, continue to pour in.

Police personnel cordoned off the Sangam area of Srinagar where two teachers were shot dead on Thursday, October 7,2021. KL Image by Bilal Bahadur

Two teachers from the minority communities, Supinder Kaur and Deepak Chand were killed at their school premises at Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Eidgah, Srinagar.

Here’s how Lieutenant Governor, political parties and various leaders reacted to the killings

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the killing and called it “barbaric”.

Taking to social networking site Twitter, Sinha wrote: “I strongly condemn the barbaric killing of two of our teachers, Supinder Kour and Deepak Chand by terrorists. A befitting reply will be given to the perpetrators of the heinous terror attacks on innocent people (sic).”

“The terrorists & their patrons will not succeed in disturbing peace, progress & prosperity of J&K UT. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family, friends, and colleagues (sic),” he tweeted.

Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi while calling the protection of the members of the minority community, a “National duty” said, “Those killing innocent members of the minority community in Kashmir want to put a brake on the ongoing development. Wherever the killers are hiding, they will be tracked down and punished,” he told reporters in a query at Doodpathri.

Assuring the minorities of safety, he said, “We will ensure full protection to the minorities in Kashmir.”

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Vice President Omar Abdullah tweeted, “Shocking news coming in again from Srinagar. Another set of targeted killings, this time of two teachers in a Govt school in Idgah area of the city. Words of condemnation are not enough for this inhuman act of terror but I pray for the souls of the deceased to rest in peace (sic).”

Mehbooba Mufti in her tweet said, “Disturbing to see the deteriorating situation in Kashmir where a miniscule minority is the latest target. GOI’s claims of building a Naya Kashmir has actually turned it into a hellhole. It’s sole interest is to use Kashmir as a milch cow for its electoral interests.”

People’s Conference President, Sajad Gani Lone also condemned the killing.

“Reports of cowardice emerging. Two teachers shot dead. It is important to understand that terrorists have no religion. Muslims have been killed too. I personally had a killing in my family. This is a lunatic fringe which is a curse for Kashmir. May Allah rid us of this curse (sic),” he tweeted.

CPI(M) leader, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, in a statement, while condemning the killings said that the killing of two school teachers in Srinagar, less than 48 hours after three civilians were gunned down in separate incidents, is most unfortunate and tragic and such barbaric incidents have no place in a civilised society.

“Such brutal killings are harmful for the society and can’t be justified under any circumstances, ” the statement further read while adding that the spree of latest killings has shocked the Kashmiri society. Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs are part and parcel of the local shared history, and cultural ethos. Protecting the pluralistic visage of J&K must be the top agenda of every Kashmiri,” the statement read.

“We condemn these killings in the strongest words and express deep sympathy with the bereaved families,” the statement further read.

Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) President, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari while expressing shock and grief over the killings termed the incident as “Dastardly coward act wherein civilians have been targeted mercilessly.”

“This is a brazen display of cowardice and inhuman nature. The government must act tough against the perpetrators of this heinous crime against humanity,” Bukhari said, demanding security measures that can prevent such brutal killings across Kashmir.

“These nefarious designs are meant to disturb the peace and tranquility in J&K. However, people of J&K share a strong social bonding and would definitely defeat the plans of forces inimical to peace,” he asserted.

Bukhari along with the Apni Party leadership prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls and courage to their families to bear this irretrievable loss.

The Congress party described the act as ghastly and mindless. In a statement, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee has expressed disappointment over the killing of school teachers, describing it as shameful, unfortunate and most condemnable act.

“The barbaric Killing of school teachers was disturbing and mindless act on the part of killers,” JKPCC added while also expressing anguish over the loss of, urging the government to ascertain the identity of killers for exemplary punishment.

JKPCC conveyed deepest condolences to bereaved family and expressed solidarity with the them

Dilbagh Singh, Director General of Police, J&K said that killing unarmed civilians was a conspiracy to damage age-old communal harmony in Kashmir, adding that police had already got some clues about the previous killings but will also probe the fresh incident.

Talking to reporters outside the Government Boys Higher Secondary School Sangam, Eidgah, Srinagar, the DGP said that killing of innocent civilians reflects “frustration and barbarism.”

“This is an attempt to defame local Muslims of Kashmir. Killing innocent civilians including teachers is a move to attack and damage the age-old tradition of communal harmony and brotherhood in Kashmir,” he said.

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