“When you yourself know, there is no need to ask me. This is known even to the government of India,” Larkipora’s sarpanch Ajay Pandita Bharti, had responded when a local journal asked if the terrorists were threatening to shoot grassroot leaders such as panches and sarpanches in Kashmir. “Even then they are not willing to give us security, not willing to give accommodations,” Ajay Pandita was shot dead yesterday in Anantnag. His words continue to send shivers down the listeners spine. The video interview by a local news channel called Mercury Times is now doing the rounds of social media, hours after the father of two daughters, was shot dead allegedly by terrorists affiliated to the The Resistance Front, which according to a report by the IANS is a newly formed group in Kashmir.
“I ask the Union Territory government, has our Lieutenant Governor even met sarpanchs or panchs? Does he know Ajay Bharti? No!,” the slain a Kashmiri Pandit Congressman asked, “we will die, they will say circumstances on ground are good. Where? When an elected sarpanch… when I am not safe, how can I say everyone is safe?”
His voice is firm as he shared what he had been observing around him. The reporter commented that Ajay’s was the only Pandit family living in the area, after the mass exodus of the community around 1988-89. “You did not leave?” asked the reporter.
Ajay was honest in his reply, “I too had migrated to come here [another town in Kashmir presumably] but I felt like coming back to my people after six years.”
He said the people were good, even as there were some elements with various affiliations out to create trouble and invoke fear in the people. “Not only am I scared… even the ordinary citizen is scared,” he had said. These words are now a painful reminder of how prophetic this young Kashmiri leader was.
Danish Manzoor, a journalist who shared the video when the news of Ajay Pandita’s killing came in said, “Remember how the every Sarpanch & Panch from J&K was called in for victorious photo-ops by our Home Ministry to Delhi? Well here’s a recent interview of Martyr Ajay Pandita (Bharti) imploring the Govt of J&K to grant him security”
Remember how the every Sarpanch & Panch from J&K was called in for victorious photo-ops by our Home Ministry to Delhi?
Well here’s a recent interview of Martyr Ajay Pandita (Bharti) imploring the Govt of J&K to grant him security??
▪️How we failed Ajay▪️
▪️Heads must roll▪️ pic.twitter.com/auski3d8Le
— Danish Manzoor | Physical Distancing (@TellDM) June 9, 2020
Ajay Pandita’s father Dwarika Nath Pandita is quoted by news agency ANI: “
I’m pained that terrorists shot my son at his back. He has 2 daughters, who even after this incident have said that they will not leave their native place.”
I’m pained that terrorists shot my son at his back. He has 2 daughters, who even after this incident have said that they will not leave their native place: Dwarika Nath Pandit, father of Ajay Pandit,Congress sarpanch who was killed by terrorists in Anantnag y’day#JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/MaqoYaznV9
— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2020
According to news from the press trust of India that was carried by many media outlets, militants shot and killed the sarpanch in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. Ajay Pandita a member of the Congress party and the grassroot leader of the area, was shot dead by militants in his native village in the evening, a police official told the media, adding that he was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed.
The murder was condemned by politicans, who came together in solidarity in this moment of grief. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said: “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.”
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
“Very sorry to hear about the killing of sarpanch Ajay Pandita in Anantnag earlier this afternoon. I unequivocally condemn this terror attack on a grassroots political worker & pray that his soul rests in peace,” Tweeted National Conference leader Omar Abdullah.
Very sorry to hear about the killing of sarpanch Ajay Pandita in Anantnag earlier this afternoon. I unequivocally condemn this terror attack on a grassroots political worker & pray that his soul rests in peace.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 8, 2020
Mehbooba Mufti, who leads the People’s Democratic Party blamed the “system” adding that political workers were in a dismal state, “ What can someone hope to achieve by silencing those actively serving poor and marginalised? We vehemently condemn such brutal assassination of Mr Ajay Pandita ji,” her statement was tweeted by her daughter Iltija, who operates it.
Terrible news.Condolences to the family.Shrinking political space in Kashmir has made political party workers all the more vulnerable.They are stuck between punitive actions of a vindictive government & militants on the other end https://t.co/NFvz1lswOA
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) June 8, 2020
Of course there were plenty using this horrific murder to fan communal flames too.