Srinagar: Seven workers including a doctor were killed while more than ten were injured in a militant attack on the construction site of a tunnel in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, evoking sharp condemnations from Home Minister Amit Shah and politicians.
Officials said a doctor from Budgam district identified as Dr Shahnawaz and six other workers were killed in the attack. The workers Faheem Nazir, Kaleem, and Mohammad Hanif, all from Bihar, Shashi Abrol from Jammu, Anil Shukla from Madhya Pradesh and Gurmeet Singh from Punjab.
Official sources said the workers had returned to the camp site from the tunnel when unidentified militants attacked them inside the camp during evening hours. "The attackers fired indiscriminately towards the workers. Two workers succumbed at the spot while five others including the doctor succumbed in the hospital," sources said.
The workers were working at the tunnel at Gagangeer on the Srinagar-Leh highway. Two tunnels have been constructed for the last two years on the strategic highway to keep it open round the year. Relatives of the Budgam doctor said that he was posted there recently to provide medical service to the workers and officers at the campsite.
This is the second such incident in which unidentified militants have killed non-local labourers after the elected government took over. A non-local labourer from Bihar was killed in Shopian on 16th October. The killing of the two labourers has evoked sharp condemnation from political parties in Jammu and Kashmir.
In response to the incident, Union Home Minister Amit Shah condemned the attack, labelling it a 'despicable act of cowardice." He assured that those responsible would face severe repercussions from security forces. "I extend my sincerest condolences to the families of the deceased and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," he said in a post on X.
The dastardly terror attack on civilians in Gagangir, J&K, is a despicable act of cowardice. Those involved in this heinous act will not be spared and will face the harshest response from our security forces. At this moment of immense grief, I extend my sincerest condolences to…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 20, 2024
Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said that he strongly condemns the horrific terror attack on innocent labourers.
Chief minister Omar Abdullah said he felt very sad about the "dastardly cowardly attack on non-local labourers" at Gagangir in Sonamarg region. "These people were working on a key infrastructure project in the area. I strongly condemn this attack on unarmed innocent people & send my condolences to their loved ones," he said.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that the attackers will not go unpunished. "We have given full freedom to J&K Police, Army and Security forces. Our brave personnel are on the ground & they will ensure terrorists pay a very heavy price for their actions. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. The entire nation stands in solidarity with the families in this hour of grief," Sinha said.
I strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack on civilians in Gagangeer. 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.
— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) October 20, 2024
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra condemned the killings, stating that targeting innocent civilians is a crime against humanity. "The entire country is united against such acts of violence," she said, offering condolences to the bereaved families and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
गांदरबल, जम्मू-कश्मीर में कायराना आतंकी हमले में 5 मजदूरों समेत छह नागरिकों की हत्या अत्यंत निंदनीय है।
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) October 20, 2024
निर्दोष नागरिकों की हत्या करके आम जनता के बीच हिंसा व दहशत फैलाने जैसे कृत्य मानवता के विरुद्ध अपराध हैं। इसके खिलाफ पूरा देश एकजुट है।
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Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the violence, expressing her condolences to the victims' families. People's Conference leader Sajad Gani Lone described the attack as an 'insane act of madness," while Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra expressed concern over the potential for such incidents to destabilise the region further.
Security forces have cordoned off the area and initiated a search operation to locate the attackers.
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