3 Migrant Workers Shot at in South Kashmir

Srinagar: Three non-local labourers were shot at by militants in Gagran village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Thursday, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police said. 

The victims were identified as Anmol Kumar, Pintu Kumar Thakur and Heralal Yadav, natives of Bihar’s Supaul district.

The seriously injured labourers were shifted to Srinagar hospitals. One of them is critical and being treated at the Super Speciality Hospital. 

“Terrorists fired upon three outside labourers in Shopian. Injured persons are Anmol Kumar, Pintu Kumar Thakur and Heeralala Yadav, all residents of District Supaul, Bihar. Being shifted to hospital. Cordon being launched,” the Kashmir Zone Police tweeted.

Two pistol-borne assailants with their faces covered shot at the labourers after entering their rented accommodation, the police added. 

The attack was widely condemned by the local political leadership, including former chief minister Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. 

“Very unfortunate. I unreservedly condemn this attack and send my best wishes to the injured. I hope they make a complete and speedy recovery,” Abdullah tweeted.

“Condemn the attack on non-locals at Shopian today. I pray for their swift recovery,” Mufti tweeted.

Condemning the attack, CPI(M) Central Committee member and former MLA MY Tarigami said that the “poor men had come from hundreds of miles to earn their livelihood. Such attacks won’t benefit anyone. Hope they receive the best medical care.”

In a statement denouncing the attack, Bhartiya Janata Party spokesperson Altaf Thakur said that it reflected the “inhumanity” and “frustration” of the attackers.

“Urge police to track those involved in the gruesome act and punish them sternly. Praying for speedy recovery of all three injured men,” Thakur said.

This is the second such attack on labourers in Kashmir since May. On May 29, militants shot dead a circus worker Deepu in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Since January, more than 12 civilians have been murdered by militants across the Union Territory even as the overall attacks have decreased. According to security forces, active militants have fallen to a decade-low in 2023.

The incident has revived fear amongst non-local labourers, who have been increasingly attacked in the last few years. The first spate of such attacks following the abrogation of Article 370 was reported in October 2019. Since then, more than 12 labourers have been targeted by militants.