Terror shadow returns over Kashmir migrants
Migrant workers camping in the Kashmir Valley to earn their livelihood have once again come on the radar of the terrorists, amid a renewed surge in tourist arrivals in the valley.
The targeted killing of two non-locals hailing from Chhattisgarh and a policeman in a gap of less than 10 days has also unnerved the security establishment in the region ahead of the August 5 anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370. Similar incidents of targeted killings were reported after the Abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.
At least 10 migrant workers were killed in a series of strikes in October 2019. The trend continued, and migrant workers were made soft targets in 2021, 2022, and 2024.
In the latest incident, two labourers, in their twenties, hailing from Chhattisgarh, were hit by terrorists from point-blank range, in front of their family members, at a brick kiln in the Kelam area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district late Friday evening.
One of the migrant workers, Deepak Ratray (24), succumbed to his injuries before reaching the GMC, Anantnag. The second worker, Bhoopinder, succumbed to his fatal injuries during treatment at SKIMS, Srinagar, on Saturday.
The terrorists responsible for the Kulgam attack used the same modus operandi as in the horrific Pahalgam attack last year.
The family of one of the two Chhattisgarh labourers killed in the Kulgam terror attack has alleged that the attackers asked the victims about their identity and religion before opening fire.
The Resistance Front (TRF), widely regarded as a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Preliminary investigations by the central and local agencies have also hinted that Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Latif Bhat and his associate are likely to be behind the recent targeted killings in Jammu and Kashmir, including the death of two migrant workers in a terrorist attack in Kulgam on Friday.
Security agencies suggested that Bhat’s aide, Waris Shah, provided logistical support for the attacks. Taking serious note of the targeted killing of migrant workers, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday chaired a high-level security review meeting and directed authorities to intensify anti-terror operations, strengthen security arrangements across the Union Territory, and ensure enhanced protection for labourers from outside Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a statement issued by the spokesman of the Lok Bhavan, LG Manoj Sinha chaired a high-level security meet and directed all the Deputy Commissioners and SSPs to conduct a comprehensive review of the Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) established to protect labourers from outside Jammu and Kashmir.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah strongly condemned the dastardly killing of two labourers in Kulgam. He announced an ex-gratia relief of `10 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) for the next of kin of the deceased. The Chief Minister expressed profound grief over the loss of innocent lives and said the assistance would be in addition to the `6 lakh immediate relief being provided by the District Administration.
During the security review meeting, LG Sinha also directed that the employers must ensure all workers from other states and UTs of the country are provided insurance and that their details are registered with local police and district authorities.
“We must intensify precise, high-impact anti-terror operations to neutralise the terrorists,” the Lieutenant Governor said. Ground reports claimed, after the migrant workers were targeted in the Kelam area, the security forces swiftly lauched cordon and search operations and set up security check posts to track down the perpetrators behind the attack.
He instructed the authorities to ensure dignified last rites for the victims of the Kulgam terror attack and to provide all the support to bereaved families.
The meeting also discussed the security arrangements in place for the ongoing Shri Amarnathji Yatra and strengthening of the security grid.
