Daijiworld Media Network - Srinagar
Srinagar, Aug 1: Two labourers from Chhattisgarh were killed in a terrorist attack at a brick kiln in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district after the second injured worker succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.
The attack took place late on Friday evening at a brick kiln in the Kelam area of south Kashmir, where unidentified terrorists opened fire on the workers.
One of the victims, identified as Deepak Ratray, died before he could be shifted to a hospital. The second labourer, Bopinder, was initially admitted to the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital in Anantnag and later referred to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Hospital in Soura for advanced treatment. He succumbed to his injuries on Saturday, taking the death toll to two.
Both victims were in their twenties and hailed from Chhattisgarh.
Following the attack, Jammu and Kashmir Police and other security forces cordoned off the area and launched a massive search operation to trace those responsible. The operation is continuing.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack and directed security agencies to intensify operations against the perpetrators.
In a post on X, Sinha said he had spoken to Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat and other senior security officials following the incident.
"I strongly condemn this cowardly act. I have directed our security forces to step up their operations and eliminate the terrorists. J&K Police and security forces have cordoned off the area and launched an operation to bring the perpetrators to justice," he said.
Police said the terrorists specifically targeted the labourers at the brick kiln in Kelam.
The incident comes less than 10 days after terrorists allegedly shot dead a police officer in Anantnag town.
The latest attack also recalls similar incidents involving non-local workers in Jammu and Kashmir. On February 7, 2024, two labourers from Punjab, Amritpal Singh and Rohit Masih, were shot dead by terrorists in the Shaheed Gunj area of Srinagar.