A female teacher, identified as Rajni Bala, was shot dead by militants at High School in Gopalpora area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam on Tuesday, 31 May.
The woman, a resident of Samba (Jammu division), received critical gunshot injuries and succumbed after being shifted to the hospital.
The Gopalpora area has been cordoned off and the army and police have been deployed at the school, as per reports.
The Kashmir Zone Police said that the terrorists involved in the attack will be soon identified and action will be taken accordingly.
The incident sparked protests by several people who have blocked a road in Kulgam. They demanded relocation, claiming that they are not feeling safe in Srinagar.
Husband and daughter of slain teacher Rajni Bala.
(Photo: Muneeb ul Islam)
Later, Bala's mortal remains were brought to her residence in Samba, Jammu.
'Most Reprehensible Act': J&L Lt Governor
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha took to Twitter to express grief about the unfortunate event.
"Terrorist attack on a school teacher, Rajni Bala, is the most reprehensible act," he wrote, conveying his condolences to the victim's family.
"Terrorists and their sympathisers will be given unforgettable response for (this) dastardly attack," he added.
'Despicable Targetted Attack': Former J&K CM Omar Abdullah on the Killing
Former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condoled her death, calling the incident a "despicable targetted attack".
"Another home irreparably damaged by violence," he added.
The attack comes the same day two terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in J&K's Pulwama.
Witness Recounts Horror, Relatives Demand Justice
The Gopalpora village head told news agency ANI that he witnessed the incident that occurred around 10 am on Tuesday. Recounting how he saw the teacher being shot in her head after which another teacher picked her up, he said that he was the one to inform the police.
"We want justice," a relative of the victim said, adding that the government must do something about the rise in "targetted killings".
"Security should be given to migrant employees" in the Kashmir division, he added.
Security forces cordon off the area where the teacher was killed.
(Photo: Muneeb ul Islam)
Recent Killings in Kashmir
This is the seventh such attack on a civilians and policemen in Kashmir in the past few weeks.
On 25 May, a 35-year old television artist Amreen Bhat was shot dead by terrorists at her residence in the Chadoora area of Budgam. Her 10-year-old nephew was also injured in the attack.
Previously, a Kashmiri pandit and a government employee named Rahul Bhat was shot inside the local tehsil office by militants. On 12 May, gunmen had fired upon Bhat in the office located in the Chadoora area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
The deaths triggered massive protests. Some protesters reportedly tonsured their heads as well.
Kashmiri Pandits block national highway to protest recent killings.
(Photo: Muneeb ul Islam)
In another fatal instance, a police officer Saifullah Qadri was killed after terrorists opened fire in Srinagar's Soura area. The man's daughter also sustained injuries during the attack, the police said.
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