Jammu Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Friday said that militants and their supporters involved in the act of killing of a Kashmiri Pandit employee Rahul Bhat “will have to pay a very heavy price for the heinous act.” He also said that the government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe all aspects of the attack.
As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the J&K LG met the relatives of slain Rahul Bhat in Jammu and assured them justice. In a tweet, the LG said: “Met the relatives of Rahul Bhat and assured justice to the family. In this hour of grief, the government stands firmly with Rahul’s family. Militants and their supporters will have to pay a very heavy price for their heinous act.”
He also said that a decision has been taken to constitute special investigative team to probe all the aspects of the ‘despicable terror attack.” “The SHO of the concerned police station has also been attached,” the LG tweeted.
He further stated that J&K administration will provide a government job to Rahul Bhat’s wife in Jammu and financial assistance to the family. “The government will bear the educational expenses of the daughter,” the LG said.
Rahul was shot dead by militants in Tehsil office Chadoora in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Thursday. His killing’s left the entire Kashmiri Pandit community shattered while the incident evoked mass resentment and condemnation from all quarters.
On the second day (Friday), members of Kashmiri Pandit community staged massive protests in various parts of the Valley and demanded protection and heightened security at their places of jobs and residential quarters including Sheikhpora, Budgam, Vessu in Qazigund and Hall in Pulwama.
Ravi, a Kashmir Pandit, said that the government has miserably failed to protect the KP community members, who were brought to Kashmir under Prime Minister’s Rehabilitation Pakage. “We continue to fall prey to militants. We urge the LG administration to step up our security and ensure safe and secure environment for all the KPs working under the PMRP package in Valley,” he said.
Civil Society groups also staged a protest at Clock Tower (Ghanta Ghar) and demanded justice for the family. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole also joined them in the protest against the killing of Rahul Bhat—(KNO)