Wife expecting first child in June, terror attack snatches family's sole breadwinner in J-K

Deepu Kumar (27) was expecting his first child in June but his life was cut short in a terror attack in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, leaving his poor family without its sole brewinner.

Kumar, who worked at a circus in district's Janglat Mandi area, was gunned down by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists in latest incident of targeted killing when he h gone to market to buy milk around 8.30 pm on Monday.

His body was on Tuesday moved to his remote Thial village in Udhampur district where, in a heart-wrenching gesture, locals came forward to help Below Poverty Line-family perform his last rites.

"Kumar was only earning hand in family comprising his ailing far Mashu Ram, blind bror Raju and his wife, and ir two minor children," local resident Shankar Dass told PTI.

He said family moved to remote village from Kathua district over a dece back. Kumar's mor died sometime ago. His elder bror Raju lost his eyesight about four years ago while his far is hearing impaired.

"Over past six years, he was in Kashmir and moving from place to place with his circus. We talked to him just before he was killed. He h transferred some money to meet family's medical expenses," Raju said.

Devastated after hearing news of Kumar's killing, his far asked, "What was his fault? He was re to earn a livelihood for family." family, living in a single-storey mud-house on a hill slope and whose sole possessions are three goats, demanded justice for Kumar's murder.

Abhi Sharma, circus owner, said y were in Janglat Mandi area for past two months and planned to move to anor destination within a day or two when incident occurred.

"He married Gudya about two years ago and couple was expecting ir first child around June 15," Sharma, who was among those accompanying body in an ambulance, said.

He said y have been frequently organising shows in Valley over past few years but never faced such a situation.

" incident happened outside our camping site, which was well protected… We have our own private security," Sharma said, demanding equate compensation and a job for Kumar's wife.

Amid anti-Pakistan sloganeering, a large number of villagers turned up to receive Kumar's body around 1.30 pm despite a drizzle. body h left Anantnag in an ambulance under police protection at 8 am.

According to police, victim h gone to a nearby marketplace when two motorcycle-borne men fired three bullets at him from close range. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared de by doctors.

ditional Director General of Police (Kashmir Zone) Vijay Kumar, who is closely monitoring situation, directed district police to intensify ir search to nab killers at earliest. A little-known outfit, Kashmir Freedom Fighter, believed to be a show outfit of banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for killing.

A BJP delegation led by spokesperson RS Pathania visited family and assured all possible assistance.

A group of people also staged an anti-Pakistan protest following killing and demanded security for members of minority community working in Valley.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who represents Udhampur in Lok Sabha, condemned terror attack and sought strict security measures to prevent such targeted killings in Valley.

"While on a visit to Chennai, I was extremely shocked to learn about brutal killing of young Deepu who hailed from Majalta, district Udhampur and was earning meagre livelihood in Anantnag. BJP Karyakartas have alrey reached house of bereaved family to provide all possible help.

"While strongly condemning killing of this youth from a poor family, it is strongly urged that strict security measures be enforced to prevent such target killings and also to act as deterrent against terror activities," Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office wrote on Twitter.

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has also condemned attack and said government and entire nation is standing shoulder to shoulder with family.

"Our security forces remain committed in ir resolve to thwart designs of terrorists and all efforts will be me to bring perpetrators to justice," he said.