In another targeted killing, terrorists gun down Hindu man in Pulwama

This is the first attack on a Hindu civilian in last four months and the second targeted attack on a Kashmiri local in two days.

In yet another targeted killing in the Valley, terrorists shot dead a man belonging to the Kashmiri Pandit community in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Sunday.

The victim was identified as Sanjay Sharma was critically injured after terrorists fired at him while he was on his way to the local market.

"Terrorists fired upon one civilian from minority namely Sanjay Sharma S/O Kashinath Sharma R/O Achan Pulwama while on way to local market. He was shifted to hospital however, he succumbed to injuries. There was Armed guard in his village. Area cordoned off. Details shall follow," the Jammu and Kashmir Police tweeted.

Taking to Twitter, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah he was "deeply saddened to hear of the demise of Sanjay Pandith".

"Sanjay was working as a bank security guard & was killed in a militant attack earlier today. I unequivocally condemn this attack and send my condolences to his loved ones," Abdullah tweeted.

"These incidents only benefit BJP whether it is in Haryana or Kashmir. BJP failed in protecting the lives of minorities here. They only use minorities to show normalcy in the valley," said Mehbooba Mufti, PDP Chief on target killing of minority in valley.

"BJP use these types of incidents to degrade the image of Muslims in the country. I condemn this act. This is not the behaviour of the Kashmiri people. All these acts show the failures of the Government," she added.

This is the second targeted attack on a Kashmiri local in two days. A terrorist shot at and injured Asif Ali Ganai in Anantnag whose father, a police head constable, was killed in a terrorist attack last year.

There were frequent targeted killings in Kashmir last year. Many of the victims were migrant workers or Kashmiri Pandits.

The killings triggered a wave of protests by the minority community. Scores of Pandit employees and Jammu-based reserved category employees had shifted to Jammu in May last year following the killing of their colleagues, Rahul Bhat and Rajni Bala, by terrorists. While Bhat was shot dead inside his office in Budgam district on May 12, Bala, a schoolteacher, was gunned down in Kulgam district on May 31 last year.

The Modi government has taken various measures to counter targeted killings in Kashmir, including increasing the security presence in the region, launching counterinsurgency operations, and cracking down on separatist organisations.

However, the situation remains complex and challenging, with no easy solutions in sight.