Political parties condemned the attack on a 22-year-old man — son of the owner of Srinagar's famous eatery Krishna Dhaba — in Srinagar's Sonawar area on Wednesday evening.

Aakash Mehra was shot at near Krishna Dhaba, a short distance from the hotel where the foreign envoys are staying during their visit in Jammu and Kashmir (J-K). “Preliminary investigation revealed that terrorists had fired upon an individual at Krishna Daba area of Dalgate Srinagar,” the police said in a statement.

Omar Abdullah, who is a former chief minister of J-K, called the attack “unacceptable”. He said: “Very sorry to hear about the attack on the Krishna Dhaba in Srinagar, these attacks are unacceptable. I hope the injured person who is himself associated with the dhaba and is undergoing treatment in a city hospital makes a complete and speedy recovery.”

Another former Chief Minister of J-K, Mehbooba Mufti, said: “Deeply saddened by the attack on Krishna Dhaba at Sonawar in Srinagar. Extend my sympathies to the injured & his family. Violence is never the answer.”

Ashok Koul, J-K Bharatiya Janata Party General Secretary, also called the attack on Mehra a “barbaric and highly condemnable”act. “These things would not be tolerated anymore,” he said. “It was the historic day and these attacks are aimed to disturb the peace in the region.”

Koul termed the incident as unfortunate and urged police to investigate the case and nab the culprits behind the attack.

Urging the police to investigate the case, he added: “We stand by the family at this difficult situation. Those who are responsible would not achieve anything.”

Mehra was shifted to a nearby hospital after the attack. He is reported to be critical.