Srinagar, June 2: Twenty-six-year-old Vijay Kumar had returned to Kashmir recently along with his wife Manoj Kumari. The newlyweds were happy to start a new life under the foothills of the mighty Himalayas.
Fate, however, had something else in store. Barely three months into the marriage, Manoj was left alone as Vijay was gunned down on Thursday in yet another case of targeted civilian killing in the Valley.
Vijay Kumar, a resident of Bhagavan Hanumangarh Rajasthan and the bank manager at Ellaqai Dehati Bank (EDB) at the Areh Mohanpora Kulgam was critically wounded in a militant attack and shifted to a hospital where the doctors declared him dead.
CCTV footage showed the killer entering the bank branch, firing a shot and fleeing.
“The feeling of being married was yet to sink in when the cruel hands snatched his life,” lamented his colleague.
Kumar was first posted in Kashmir in 2019 after he was recruited in the bank. He was posted at Areh Mohanpora branch only last week. Prior to that he was posted for a brief period of 10 days at Vailoo Kokarnag Anantnag.
“His first posting in Kashmir was in February 2019 at Pahloo Kulgam,” the colleague said, terming Kumar an affable man all along his service of over three years.
Kumar got married on February 10 and he availed a leave of 20 days for his wedding. While he returned to Kashmir in March, his wife arrived in Jammu last month.
“Vijay went to receive her in Jammu and the couple travelled to Kulgam only last month,” the colleague said. “Since then the two were living happily at a rented accommodation in Upper Bazar Qazigund.”
Besides his wife, Kumar is survived by his father, Om Prakash Jat, a school teacher, his mother Rameti Devi- a house maker- and younger brother who is a student.
Reports said the “Kashmir Freedom Fighters” group has claimed responsibility for the killing.
