Sh Sanjay Sharma

Remembrance & Record

Life Summary: Mr. Sanjay Sharma was a member of the Kashmiri Pandit community and a resident of Achan village in Pulwama district of Jammu & Kashmir. He worked as a security guard at a local bank branch and was known locally as a quiet and hardworking individual dedicated to supporting his family.

Unlike many Kashmiri Pandits who left the Valley during the mass exodus of the 1990s, Mr. Sharma continued to live in Kashmir. His presence reflected the determination of a small number of Kashmiri Pandit families who chose to remain in or return to their ancestral homeland despite continuing security challenges.

Circumstances of Death: On the morning of 26 February 2023, Mr. Sanjay Sharma was on his way to a local market in Pulwama to purchase groceries when he was shot at close range by armed assailants. He sustained critical injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.

The killing occurred in broad daylight and renewed concerns regarding the security of minority communities living in the Kashmir Valley.

Known Perpetrators: Contemporary media reports and statements issued by security agencies attributed the attack to militants active in the region. Public reports at the time indicated that a militant organization known as the Resistance Front (TRF) claimed responsibility for the killing. However, the ultimate determination of criminal responsibility remains a matter for law-enforcement agencies and the judicial process.

Family Details: Mr. Sanjay Sharma was the son of Sh. Kashinath Sharma and belonged to a Kashmiri Pandit family from Achan village in Pulwama district. Public reports indicate that he was survived by his wife, children, and other family members who faced the profound loss of a husband, father, and son.

Tribute / Notes: Mr. Sanjay Sharma’s death serves as a painful reminder that targeted violence against civilians continued to cast a shadow over Kashmir decades after the onset of militancy. An ordinary citizen earning his livelihood as a bank security guard, he was not engaged in politics or public office. Yet his life was cut short in an act of violence that deeply affected his family and community.

He is remembered by those who knew him as a hardworking and humble man who sought nothing more than to live peacefully in the land of his ancestors. His memory endures as a symbol of resilience, perseverance, and the enduring hope that future generations may live free from fear and violence.