SRINAGAR: Unidentified militants on Tuesday killed a junior engineer of J&K Power Development Department, (PDD) Bashir Ahmad Tantray, who had converted to Christianity ignoring threats from Islamic radical groups.
Tantray was shot dead in his village Mamoosa in Pattan tehsil of Baramulla district. “Two militants enquired about the public transport system. After that they fired at my cousin,” said Ghulam Rasool Tantray, cousin of the slain.
Bashir Tantray had migrated from his village, years back after he received threats from militant groups. He was staying in Sonawar but he returned to his village on Monday to visit his ailing father.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, north Kashmir range, Mohammad Subhan Lone said they had received reports that Bashir had converted to Christianity in 1995 or 1996. “As far as the motive is concerned, it is being investigated,” he said. Lone said Bashir was buried in his village with Islamic rites. “People offered Nimaz Jinaza. There was no problem,” he said.
This is the first time that a Christian convert has been killed in Kashmir, though there have been attacks on Christian missionary schools in the past. Militants had attacked a Christian missionary school with grenades at Pulwama a few years ago.
Militants triggered a car bomb explosion outside the Burn Hall School in July last year. It was followed by a grenade attack outside the Biscoe School at Lal Chowk in which two women died and several students suffered injuries.
