On Sunday night, a terrorist attack in the Gagangir area of Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed the lives of seven people, including a doctor named Shahnawaz Ahmed, a resident of Naidgam in Budgam district of central Kashmir. The attack targeted non-locals working in the region, and in addition to the fatalities, five laborers were injured. These injured workers, who were engaged in a tunnel construction project under the central government, were transported to Srinagar Medical College for treatment.
According to an official statement, the terrorists opened fire on a camp housing laborers from a private company working on the tunnel construction in the Gund area of the district. This sudden assault left several dead and many others in critical condition, including those who had come to the region for employment and economic opportunities.
Following the attack, security forces immediately cordoned off the area and launched a comprehensive search operation to apprehend the assailants. Inspector General of Police (IGP) for Kashmir, VK Birdi, visited the site to assess the situation and oversee the operation.
The Ganderbal district, where the attack took place, falls under the Ganderbal assembly constituency, which is represented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. In a public statement, Abdullah strongly condemned the attack and expressed his deep sympathy for the families of the victims. “I strongly condemn this attack and express my condolences to the bereaved families,” he said.
He also took to social media platform X, highlighting the serious injuries among laborers and praying for their recovery: “The casualty figure from the Gagangir attack is not final as there are a number of injured laborers, both local & non-local. Praying that the injured make a full recovery as the more seriously injured are being referred to SKIMS, Srinagar.”
Home Minister Amit Shah responded to the attack by promising that the perpetrators of this heinous act would face justice. He assured the public that all necessary steps would be taken to apprehend those involved and prevent future incidents.
Similarly, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari condemned the attack, expressing his deep sorrow for the victims. In a post on X, Gadkari emphasized that the laborers were engaged in a vital infrastructure project in Gagangir, Sonamarg, and described the assault as an attack on the nation’s development efforts.
“I strongly condemn the horrific terror attack on innocent laborers in Gagangir, Sonamarg, Jammu & Kashmir, who were engaged in a vital infrastructure project,” Gadkari stated. He added, “I offer my humble tribute to the martyred laborers and extend my deepest condolences to their families during this difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with the injured for a swift and full recovery.”
This attack follows a similar incident that occurred on October 16, where terrorists shot dead a non-local youth in the Shopian district. The recent spate of violence has raised concerns about the safety of non-locals working on infrastructure projects in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the broader security situation in the region.
