||Black and White Digital News||

||October 21, 2024||

In one of the deadliest terror attacks on civilians in recent memory, seven people, including a Kashmiri doctor and six workers, were brutally killed in a terror strike on a construction site in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Sunday evening. The victims, who were working on a tunnel for the Srinagar-Leh national highway, fell prey to the vicious attack carried out by suspected gunmen, sparking outrage and condemnation across the region.

The chilling attack occurred in the Gagangeer area of Ganderbal, a densely forested region that has seen intermittent security threats. Police officials reported that at least two suspected terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on the camp where the workers were housed, leaving the victims fatally wounded. Despite swift efforts to transport the injured to the hospital, all seven succumbed to their injuries.

Inspector General of Police, VK Birdi, confirmed the nature of the incident, explaining, “The terrorists targeted the workers at their camp. Despite being in a heavily wooded area, security forces responded promptly, cordoning off the site to prevent further violence. The attackers will be brought to justice.”

Among the victims was a local Kashmiri doctor and six others employed with APCO, the construction company responsible for the tunnel project. The others included three laborers, a manager, a mechanical engineer, and a designer, all of whom had just returned to their camp after a day’s work when the terrorists launched their attack.

This horrific act comes as the deadliest on civilians since the June 9 incident in Reasi, where nine pilgrims tragically lost their lives when their bus, under terrorist fire, plunged into a valley. Sunday’s killings also add to a disturbing trend this year, marking the fourth instance where terrorists have targeted civilians, especially migrant workers from outside the state.

In the wake of the attack, Union Home Minister Amit Shah condemned the violence in the strongest terms, promising a severe response. “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,” Shah said in a statement on X.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who had just taken office days earlier, also expressed his outrage. “This was a dastardly attack on innocent civilians who were simply going about their work. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims, and we will not rest until justice is served,” Abdullah stated.

Across political lines, leaders voiced their condemnation. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti called the attack “senseless violence,” offering her condolences to the bereaved families. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Altaf Thakur labeled the attack an act of “frustration” on the part of the terrorists, adding, “This cowardly act shows that terrorists are unable to face the might of our security forces and are now resorting to attacking unarmed civilians.”

Tariq Hameed Karra, President of the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee, expressed deep concern over the brutal incident. He warned that such attacks could vitiate the fragile peace in the region and urged the government to take immediate action to prevent further violence against laborers and civilians.

The terror-stricken region has been witnessing a wave of violence against civilians, particularly targeting those from outside the state. Just days before Sunday’s attack, on October 18, the bullet-riddled body of 37-year-old laborer Ashok Chauhan from Bihar was recovered in Shopian district. Chauhan, who was shot dead by suspected terrorists, is among the several migrant workers who have fallen victim to such atrocities this year. In April, another migrant worker from Bihar was killed in Bijbehara, Anantnag by terrorists, continuing this disturbing pattern of attacks on non-locals.

As security forces intensify their manhunt for the perpetrators of Sunday’s attack, the entire nation stands in solidarity with the families of the victims. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are once again reminded of the need for robust security measures to protect civilians, as terror continues to disrupt their lives and the region’s fragile peace.