KULGAM / ANANTNAG — Unidentified terrorists targeted non-local brick kiln workers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Friday, killing one labourer and critically injuring another in a fresh strike against migrant workers in the region.
According to senior police officials, the attack occurred in the Kelam area of Kulgam when terrorists opened fire at the workers stationed at a local brick kiln. Both victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds during the attack.
The deceased has been identified as 24-year-old Deepak Kumar Ratray, a resident of Chhattisgarh. Officials stated that Ratray succumbed to his injuries while being rushed to a nearby medical facility.
The second worker, 28-year-old Bhupinder Dasrat, also hailing from Chhattisgarh, sustained severe gunshot injuries. He was initially admitted to Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag before being transferred to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Soura, Srinagar, for specialized medical treatment. Medical staff reported that his condition is being closely monitored.
Security Forces Launch Cordon and Search Operation
Immediately following the shooting, joint teams of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Indian Army, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) cordoned off the Kelam area and launched an extensive search operation to track down the assailants.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a "cowardly act" and confirming that security forces have been instructed to intensify counter-terrorism measures in the region.
"I spoke with the DGP, Shri Nalin Prabhat, and top security officials following the brutal terrorist attack in Kulgam in which a labourer from Chhattisgarh was killed," LG Sinha said in a statement. "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."
Heightened Security Across South Kashmir
The terror incident comes amidst heightened security measures across South Kashmir following a series of recent counter-terrorism operations and targeted attacks.
On July 22, Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi was killed in a close-range shooting by a terrorist in Anantnag while on Amarnath Yatra security deployment. Following that attack, security agencies intensified preventive crackdowns and security checks throughout the Kashmir Valley.
Earlier in July, joint forces neutralized a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorist in Shopian and subsequently seized a substantial cache of arms and ammunition during a search operation in Kulgam’s Tantripora-Sarsano area on July 29.
Security forces remain on high alert across Kulgam and neighboring districts as search operations continue to locate the perpetrators responsible for Friday's fatal attack.
