Akash Mehra, the son of the owner of Krishna Dhaba – a popular eatery in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar – on Sunday succumbed to the injuries he sustained after being shot by terrorists earlier this month. He had been undergoing treatment at the SMHS hospital for the last 10 days, PTI reported quoting officials. 

Mehra’s death triggered an outpour of grief on social media, with a number of political figures from the state taking to Twitter to express condolences, including former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. 

“Very sad news about Akash, son of the owner of Krishna Dhaba in Srinagar. After a brave fight he lost the battle to recover from injuries suffered in the earlier attack. May his soul rest in peace & may his family find strength at this difficult time,” Abdullah wrote in a tweet. 

Mufti said, “Shocked & saddened to know that Akash Mehra who ran Krishna Dhaba in Srinagar succumbed to his injuries after being shot at by militants. May his soul rest in peace & deepest condolences to the bereaved family.”

Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference president Sajad Lone said Mehra’s death was “painful and distressing news”, adding “may the killers rot in hell”. 

The Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party also denounced the “inhumane act”. 

Mehra, 22, was shot at by terrorists at close range and was critically wounded, police said. The attack was claimed by the Muslim Janbaz Force, a terror outfit active in the early 1990s. 

Krishna Dhaba, famous for its vegetarian cuisine, is located at the high-security area Durganag, with other high-profile installations, like the UN Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan and the residence of the Jammu and Kashmir chief justice, situated within 200 metres of the restaurant. 

The police have arrested three people, who are allegedly linked with a shadow outfit of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, for their involvement in the attack.