A CIRCUS worker was shot dead by Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists on Monday when he had gone to a market for purchasing milk in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. The worker, identified as Deepu Kumar from Udhampur district of Jammu region, was working in a circus that was camping at Janglaat Mandi area which was provided security, they said. The circus people had their own security as well.

 

The victim had gone to a nearby market to purchase milk when two motorcycle-borne youths fired three bullets at him from a close range at 8.30 pm, police said. The worker was taken to the hospital where he was declared brought dead, they said. Jammu and KashmirLieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha approved an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of Deepu Kumar who was killedby terrorists in Anantnag district, officials said. ADGPVijay Kumar was closely monitoring the situation anddirected the district police tointensify their search to nab thekillers at the earliest. A little known outfit, Kashmir FreedomFighter, believed to be a shadow outfit of banned Pakistanbased Lashkar-e-Toiba, hasclaimed responsibility for thekilling. Police said a case hasbeen registered and investigation is going on. Scores of people took to the streets protesting the targeted killing.