Two migrant workers from Chhattisgarh were killed in a terrorist attack at a brick kiln in Kulgam, Kashmir, an incident claimed by The Resistance Front. This follows a pattern of targeted violence in the region, prompting security forces to launch a manhunt and political leaders to condemn the killings and demand swift action against those responsible

Two migrant workers from Chhattisgarh were killed in a terrorist attack at a brick kiln in Kulgam, Kashmir, an incident claimed by The Resistance Front. This follows a pattern of targeted violence in the region, prompting security forces to launch a manhunt and political leaders to condemn the killings and demand swift action against those responsible

Two migrant workers from Chhattisgarh were killed in a terrorist attack at a brick kiln in Kulgam, Kashmir, an incident claimed by The Resistance Front. This follows a pattern of targeted violence in the region, prompting security forces to launch a manhunt and political leaders to condemn the killings and demand swift action against those responsible

 A second migrant worker from Chhattisgarh succumbed to injuries sustained in a terrorist attack at a brick kiln in the Kulgam district on Friday evening.

The Resistance Front, a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack, which reportedly occurred in the Kelam area of the south Kashmir district.

Both the migrant workers killed in the attack were in their twenties and were from Chhattisgarh. One of them, identified as Deepak Ratray, died from injuries before he could be taken to a hospital. The second man, Bhupinder, was rushed to Government Medical College Hospital in Anantnag for immediate care and was later transferred to the specialised SKIMS Hospital in Soura. But he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

Security forces rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area, and have launched a massive search operation to hunt down the attackers.

The attack is the latest in a series of targeted incidents in the region. Fewer than 10 days ago, a police officer was shot and killed by terrorists in the nearby town of Anantnag. Earlier this year, on February 7, 2024, two other workers from Punjab, Amritpal Singh and Rohit Masih, were killed by a terrorist in the Shaheed Gunj area of Srinagar.

Political leaders across Jammu and Kashmir condemned the terror attack and called for swift action against the perpetrators.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered security forces to intensify their operations to find and eliminate those responsible. "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. I strongly condemn this cowardly act," the LG said in a post on X. "I have directed our security forces to step up their operations and eliminate the terrorists."

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti described the violence as "unimaginably cruel."

"Unequivocally condemn the killing of two labourers from Chhattisgarh in Kulgam today," she wrote on X. "They work themselves to the bone far away from home only to feed their families. Unimaginably cruel to target them in such senseless acts of violence."

Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari called the attack both "tragic and inhuman." He added that the perpetrators must be "beasts to have attacked two innocent people who were here only to earn a livelihood for their families back home".

The People's Conference also issued a statement, expressing deep anguish over the killings.

"The senseless targeting of innocent civilians is utterly reprehensible and stands in complete violation of the values of humanity, peace and compassion," the party said. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and stand with them in this hour of profound grief. We also pray for the swift and complete recovery of the injured worker."

Sunil Sharma, the Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, called the incident a "cowardly and barbaric act". He said that targeting innocent civilians is an attack on all of humanity and a clear attempt to disrupt the peace and normalcy in the region.

Tariq Hameed Karra, the J&K Congress president, also condemned the violence, describing it as a "cowardly act with nefarious designs".

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