Doctor, migrant workers among 7 killed in militant attack in Ganderbal

SRINAGAR — Seven civilians including a doctor and migrant workers were killed in a militant attack in the Gagangeer area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Sunday evening out of which at least two were non-locals. The shooting happened near a campsite of Z-Morh tunnel.

At least five people were injured in the shootout, of which four have suffered critical injuries. Among the deceased are also two officers. Dr Shahnawaz, a local from Budgam district in Kashmir, is also among the deceased.

According to the initial reports, the civilians killed in the attack have been identified as Gurmeet Singh (rigger) son of Dharam Singh, a resident of Gurdaspur Punjab; Dr Shahnawaz, a resident of Nayidgam Budgam; Mohammad Haneef (Tahir & Sons) from Bihar; Anil Kumar Shukla (mechanical engineer) from Madhya Pradesh; Faheem Nasir (safety manager) from Bihar; Kaleem (Tahir & Sons) from Bihar and Shashi Abrol (Designer) from Jammu.

Inder Yadav (35) son of Gareeb Dass, a resident of Bihar; Mohan Lal (45) son of Soum Nath, a resident of Kathua; Mushtaq Ahmad Lone (25) son of Zahoor Ahmad, a resident of Preng Kangan; Ishfaq Ahmad Bhat (30) son of Abdul Ahad Bhat, a resident of Safapora and Jagtar Singh from Kathua are among those injured in the deadly attack.

The strategically important Z-Mohr tunnel is under construction. It will provide all-weather connectivity to people and the Indian Army in Ladakh. Heavy snowfall at Zojila often cuts off Ladakh from Kashmir. This disrupts the movement of forces, people and essential goods and services.

Security personnel from the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) along with local police officials have cordoned off the area. Teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the premier agency that investigates such attacks, have also rushed to the spot.

The attack is reported to have been orchestrated by the militant group The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as the group claimed responsibility for the killings.

Ganderbal district, long regarded as a peaceful area, has seen non-locals targeted for the first time in recent years. Gagangeer is located in the Sonamarg area of the Ganderbal district.

The district has largely remained calm, and the area where gunfire erupted today has experienced peace for the past 10-15 years.

Videos of the incident are going viral on social media. Graphic footage showed two people, both men, dressed for winter, lying in a pool of blood near the campsite.

Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah also said that these two individuals were involved in a key infrastructure project while condemning their death at the hands of the militants.

“Very sad news of a dastardly & cowardly attack on non-local labourers at Gagangir in Sonamarg region. These people were working on a key infrastructure project in the area. 2 have been killed & 2-3 more have been injured in this militant attack. I strongly condemn this attack on unarmed innocent people and send my condolences to their loved ones,” Abdullah, who recently took on his new role in the Union Territory, said in a social media post.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in a social media post said militants who orchestrated the killings will ‘not go unpunished’.

“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,” Sinha said on X.

The home minister Amit Shah also condemned the attack and said the killings are an ‘act of cowardice’.

“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 the families of the deceased. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured,” Shah said in a social media post.

Congress leader and the party’s general secretary Priyanka Gandhi also condemned the attack via a social media post.

“The killing of six civilians including five labourers in a cowardly terrorist attack in Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir is highly condemnable. Acts like killing innocent civilians and spreading violence and terror among the general public are crimes against humanity. The whole country is united against this. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families and I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Gandhi said.

Central minister Nitin Gadkari also condemned the killings committed by the militants in a social media post.

“I strongly condemn the horrific terror attack on innocent labourers in Gagangir, Sonamarg, Jammu & Kashmir, who were engaged in a vital infrastructure project. I offer my humble tribute to the martyred labourers 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,” Gadkari said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) said it ‘strongly condemns the cowardly killing of two non-local labourers’.

“It is very painful and unpardonable. We sympathise with the families of the victims. Our forces shall punish the killers,” Congress Kashmir unit president Ravinder Sharma said in a social media post.

Regional leader Sajjad Lone of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC) said in a post that the killings were an ‘insane act of madness’.

“Strongly condemn the dastardly act of terror wherein two persons have lost their lives in Sonamarg. This is an insane act of madness. My thoughts with the families of these two families. May the perpetrators be brought to justice,” Lone said.

Kavinder Gupta, former deputy chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, condemned the incident and said Pakistan-backed militants are trying to rear their head in the region.

“Unequivocally condemn this senseless act of violence against two labourers in Ganderbal. Deepest condolences to their families,” said Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP) supremo Mehbooba Mufti in a social media post.