SRINAGAR: A 40-year-old Kashmiri Pandit who was working as a sarpanch of a village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district was killed by terrorists at around 6 pm on Monday.

According to reports, Ajay Pandita Bharti was working as a sarpanch of Lukbawan village of Larkipora in South Kashmir. He was shot dead by terrorists near his house on Monday evening. He was also a member of the Congress party.

Bharti was immediately rushed to a Government Medical College, Anantnag where the doctors declared him brought dead.

Locals said the Bharti along with his family had migrated from south Kashmir in the early 1990s and returned here around two years back. He had contested in the panchayat elections and was elected the sarpanch of the village.

Following the death of sarpanch, Kashmir police and even Indian army launched a search operation to nab the terrorists.

Politicians cutting across party lines have condemned the killing. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also condoled the killing of his party worker.

Rahul Gandhi tweeted his condolences to the family and friends of the sarpanch:

Tweet:

My condolences to the family and friends of Ajay Pandita, who sacrificed his life for the democratic process in Kashmir. We stand with you in this time of grief.

Violence will never win.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 8, 2020

Kasmir police tweeted over the killing of Ajay Pandita Bharti.

Today at about 1800hrs some unknown #terrorists fired upon one #Congress Sarpanch identified as Ajay Pandit at #Lokbawan #Anantnag who later on #succumbed to his injuries at hospital. #Police is on the spot. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) June 8, 2020