Armed militants once again struck Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri. A government employee was shot dead by the terrorists in a targeted attack. The victim, Mohammad Razaq, aged 40 and employed in the social welfare department, fell victim to the assailants’ gunfire shortly after exiting a mosque in the Shadra Sharief area of Rajouri on April 22. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Razaq succumbed to his injuries.
#BREAKING: Terrorists have killed 40-year-old J&K Govt employee Mohammad Razaq soon after he came out of a mosque at Shadra Sharief area of Rajouri in Jammu & Kashmir. The victim is said to be brother of a Territorial Army soldier. Search Ops are underway. More details awaited.
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) April 22, 2024
The brazen attack prompted a swift response from security forces, who swiftly arrived at the scene and initiated a large-scale cordon and search operation to track down the perpetrators. This incident follows closely on the heels of two similar attacks in Anantnag and Herpora in Shopian district, where two non-locals were fatally shot by terrorists. Last Wednesday, a migrant worker from Bihar met a similar fate in Anantnag, while a resident of Dehradun was targeted by terrorists in Herpora just a week prior.
Though such attacks have witnessed a decline in frequency this year due to intensified counter-terrorism efforts, the recent killing underscores the persistent threat posed by militants in the region. The timing of the incident, amidst the peak of campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Anantnag, adds another layer of concern to the already volatile situation. Anantnag, scheduled to vote on May 7, now faces heightened security concerns in the wake of this tragic event.
