Shockwaves reverberated through Rajouri district as two Pakistani terrorists affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) carried out a targeted attack on Monday evening, resulting in the tragic death of government employee Mohammad Razak, who worked at the social welfare department.
The assailants ambushed Razak outside his residence in Shahdra Sharief, where he was fatally shot. Despite immediate medical attention, Razak succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital. His brother, a territorial army soldier, was present during the attack and narrowly escaped an attempted abduction by the terrorists, according to a senior officer. Police investigations have revealed that the terrorists utilized a US-made M4 rifle and a pistol during the assault. “We have recovered bullets from the M4 rifle used in the attack,” confirmed a senior police officer, underscoring the sophisticated nature of the weaponry employed. A joint cordon and search operation, led by the army and police, has been launched to apprehend the perpetrators.
The tragic incident is a grim reminder of the persistent threat posed by terrorism in the region, compounded by a history of violence. Razak’s father was also a victim of terrorism in the same area over two decades ago.
This attack follows recent instances of targeted violence against non-locals in Anantnag and Herpora areas of Shopian district. A migrant worker from Bihar was fatally shot in Anantnag last Wednesday, while a resident of Dehradun was targeted in Herpora just a week prior.
In response to escalating violence, Rajouri and Poonch districts witnessed a series of terrorist attacks last year, resulting in the deaths of 20 army soldiers. Subsequently, the army bolstered its presence in the region with the deployment of additional brigades to safeguard the strategically vital border area with Pakistan. Both Rajouri and Poonch fall within the Anantnag constituency, scheduled for polling on May 7 amidst heightened security concerns and a resolute determination to combat terrorism and ensure the safety of residents and electoral processes in Jammu and
Kashmir.