In what could prove to be a bad start to the upcoming tourist season in the Kashmir Valley, a visitor from Tamil Nadu died after being injured in a stone-pelting attack in Narbal area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district, on Monday.

The deceased has been identified as 22-year-old R Thirumani, a resident of Chennai.

He was admitted to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, on Monday morning after suffering injuries on his forehead and nose. He was injured after the tourist vehicle he was travelling in came under the attack of a stone pelter.

Superintendent of Police Tejinder Singh said, “An FIR against unknown assailants has been lodged. We are trying to track the culprits and will ban them soon.”

Five locals were also injured after they came under the stone-pelting attack.

The day coincided with a shutdown call given by Hurriyat leaders against the deaths of civilians in clashes between protestors and security forces on Sunday. The clashes took place in Shoipain after an encounter wherein five militants, including top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Saddam Paddar, were killed.

Kashmir, which has so far known to be safe for tourist is likely to see some repercussion.

A police officer, on condition of anonymity, said at least 40 tourists have been injured in different parts of the state due to attacks by stone pelters. “It is high time that stone pelters are dealt with an iron hand,” he said.

The victim’s body was flown to Chennai from Srinagar on Tuesday morning.

MEHBOOBA VISITS THIRUMANI’S FAMILY

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti visited the victim’s family and apologised to his parents.

“I am terribly sorry for your loss. This incident is shameful. The miscreants are trying to defame Kashmir. We won’t spare the culprits,” she said.

Former CM Omar Abdullah also condemned the attack.

“This young man from Chennai died in my constituency. While I don’t support these goons, their methods or ideology, I’m deeply deeply sorry that this happened at all and that too in an area I’ve been proud to represent since 2014,” he said in a tweet.

Taking a dig at the PDP-BJP alliance, he said, “The J&K government has failed. The CM has failed. The PDP-BJP alliance has failed. How much blood will have to be shed in Kashmir before the honorable PM realises the gravity of the situation in J&K? When will enough finally be enough?”