The terrorist who killed Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma was neutralised in an encounter, informed Kashmir Zone Police on Tuesday.
The terrorist identified as Aqib Mustaq Bhat operated for The Resistance Front, according to Kashmir Zone Police (TRF). He previously had ties to the terrorist group Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), which is based in Pakistan.
Kashmir Zone Police tweeted, "AwantiporaEncounterUpdate: Killed #terrorist identified as Aqib Mustaq Bhat of #Pulwama (A category). He initially worked for HM #terror outfit, nowadays he had been working with TRF. #Killer of late Sanjay Sharma #neutralised: ADGP Kashmir @JmuKmrPolice.
The first fatal attack on the community since October of last year—along with migrant workers—came in the Pulwama area of south Kashmir, where militants shot and killed a Kashmiri Pandit who was working as a bank guard.
Sanjay Kumar Sharma, 40, of Achan in Litter village had stepped out of his home to buy groceries when terrorists fired at him. He died on the way to the district hospital. He is survived by his wife, Sunita Sharma (38).
This was the second targeted attack this year on a civilian after terrorists shot and wounded the son of a slain police officer in Bijbehara of Anantnag district on February 24. He is being treated at the military hospital in Srinagar.
29 targeted attacks were reported in the Valley in 2022, according to official statistics. In the attacks, about ten migrant workers suffered injuries.