Anantnag: Unidentified terrorists shot two non-local brick kiln workers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Friday, killing one and critically injuring the other, police officials said.
The attack took place in the Kelam area. According to senior police officials, both men sustained injuries after they were shot at by terrorists.
One of the injured, identified as Deepak Kumar Ratray (24), a resident of Chhattisgarh, died while being shifted to a hospital, officials said.
Another worker, Bhupinder Dasrat (28), also a resident of Chhattisgarh, was admitted to Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag, where he was undergoing treatment. He has now been shifted to SKIMS Soura in Srinagar for advanced treatment.
Officials said his condition was being monitored. Both victims were employed at a local brick kiln, officials said.
Soon after the attack, security forces rushed to the area and launched a massive search operation to track down the attackers.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Singh said that he has directed security forces to step up the operations and eliminate the terrorists. In a post on X, Sinha said, “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. 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. Another injured labourer from Chhattisgarh has been rushed to the hospital for urgent medical care. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family and I am praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. J&K administration and the entire nation stand with the families.”
The attack comes weeks after security forces intensified counterterrorism operations in south Kashmir. On July 8, police announced the killing of a Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist in a joint operation carried out by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Shopian Police, the Indian Army’s Rashtriya Rifles, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Following that operation, Jammu and Kashmir Police said: “You can run but you can’t hide,” signaling continued operations against terrorists active in the region.
More recently, on July 22, Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi was shot dead at close range by a terrorist in the Lal Chowk area of Anantnag district. Qureshi, who was deployed on Amarnath Yatra security duty, was critically wounded and later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital. He was resident of Budgam’s Beerwah in Central Kashmir.
Following the attack, a heightened security alert was issued across the Valley. As part of the crackdown on terror, over 2,500 youths were picked up across the Valley, including more than 700 from Srinagar, over 200 from Budgam, 178 from Baramulla, and more than 100 from Ganderbal, besides dozens from the four South Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam, and Pulwama.
On July 29, security forces had recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition during a joint operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
According to sources, acting on intelligence received by J&K Police, 34 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and the 18th Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a search operation in the Tantripora-Sarsano garden area.
“During the search, the security forces recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition from the area, which was taken into custody on the spot,” they said.
