Srinagar, August 1
Two migrant labourers from Chhattisgarh were killed after terrorists opened fire at a brick kiln in the Kelam area of Kulgam district in south Kashmir, marking the first targeted terror attack on non-local workers in Jammu and Kashmir in nearly 21 months.
The victims, identified as Deepak Ratray and Bopinder, both in their 20s, were employed at the brick kiln when the attackers struck on Friday evening. Ratray died before he could be taken to hospital, while Bopinder succumbed to injuries during treatment after being referred from Government Medical College (GMC), Anantnag, to SKIMS Soura.
The attack has sparked fresh concerns over the security of migrant workers in the Kashmir Valley. Security forces have launched a massive search operation in the area to trace the attackers, while the investigation is underway.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the killings, describing them as a “dastardly” act, and announced an ex gratia of ₹10 lakh each for the families of the deceased from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The relief is in addition to the ₹6 lakh immediate assistance announced by the district administration.
The incident has also triggered protests in Jammu, where members of the Kashmiri Pandit community demanded justice for the victims and stronger measures to ensure the safety of civilians and migrant workers in the Union Territory
