Doctor, 6 labourers, including non-locals, shot dead by terrorists in Kashmir’s Ganderbal, casualties may rise says…

A doctor and five migrant workers were shot dead by terrorists in Sonamarg area in Ganderbal district in Central Kashmir on Sunday evening.

Kashmir terror attack: In a major terror incident, a doctor and six labourers, including migrant workers, were shot dead by terrorists when the ultras opened fire on the victims’ camp in Sonamarg area on the Srinagar-Leh national highway in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Sunday evening.

According to officials, at least two unidentified terrorists indiscriminately fired on a group of labourers that included both locals and non-locals. The labourers were working for a private construction engaged in the construction of the Z Morh tunnel project in Ganderbal’s Gund area.

The terror attack took place after the labourers had returned to their camp on late Sunday evening, police said, adding that two labourers died on the spot, while three others and the doctor succumbed to their injuries subsequently. Five more people have sustained injuries in the attack and undergoing treatment, they said.

The deceased have been identified as Dr Shahnawaz, Faheem Nazir, Kaleem, Mohammad Hanif, Shashi Abrol, Anil Shukla and Gurmeet Singh.

Meanwhile, security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to track down the attackers, police said, adding that top security officials, including Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, V K Birdi, have reached the spot to assess the situation.

Omar condemns attack, says casualties may rise

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the ‘dastardly’ attack and said the the number of casualties in the terror attack may rise as many of the injured are reportedly critical.

“The casualty figure from the Gagangir attack is not final as there are a number of injured labourers, both local and non-local. Praying that the injured make a full recovery as the more seriously injured are being referred to SKIMS, Srinagar,” Omar said in a post on X.

Earlier, Abdullah had condemned the attack, which came barely four days after he was sworn in as the chief minister of the Union Territory.

“Very sad news of a dastardly and cowardly attack on non-local labourers at Gagangir in Sonamarg region. These people were working on a key infrastructure project in the area. 2 have been killed and 2-3 more have been injured in this militant attack. I strongly condemn this attack on unarmed innocent people and send my condolences to their loved ones,” he had said.

L-G Sinha, Mehbooba condemn attack

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha strongly condemned the heinous terror attack on civilians. “I assure the people that those behind this despicable act will not go unpunished. We have given full freedom to J&K Police, Army and security forces,” Sinha said in a post on X.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the attack.

“Unequivocally condemn this senseless act of violence against two labourers in Ganderbal. Deepest condolences to their families,” she said in a post on X before the officials revised the death toll in the incident.

In a post on X, People’s Conference leader Sajad Gani Lone said: “Strongly condemn the dastardly act of terror wherein two persons have lost their lives in Sonamarg. This is an insane act of madness. My thoughts with these two families. May the perpetrators be brought to justice.”

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra expressed grave concern over the attack and said such incidents will vitiate the atmosphere in the Union Territory. He urged the government to take immediate measures to prevent such brutal attacks on innocent labourers.

Bihar labourer found dead in Shopian

The incident comes a day after the bullet-riddled body of Ashok Kumar Chauhan, a migrant worker hailing from Baghalpur in Bihar, was found in an agricultural field in Wandina area in Shopian district on Friday.

Chauhan, who was living in a rented room in Sangam area in Anantnag district, had left the accommodation at around 7 AM on Friday morning along with his some colleagues, had received a phone call while they were harvesting corn.

“He got a phone call while we were harvesting corn. He told us that he is going somewhere. When he did not return for sometime, we went to look for him. We called his number which kept ringing, but there was no answer. Then we found his body,” a colleague of Chauhan had told news agency PTI.

(With PTI inputs)