 "Doctor, 6 migrant workers killed in Jammu-Kashmir terror attack: Who’s behind it?")
Days after Omar Abdullah took the oath of office as chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, violence has struck the region. On Sunday night (October 20), terrorists opened fire at a camp set up by a construction company, which is building the Z-Morh tunnel near Gagangir on the Srinagar-Sonamarg road, killing six migrant workers and one doctor.
This is the first major attack in the Valley in recent times and has taken place in a region that has seen little or no presence of terrorism in the last decade.
The terror attack has been condemned by many, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Jammu-Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah. “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.
But what exactly happened? How did the terror attack unfold? Who’s behind the terror attack? We get you the answers.
Terror attack kills 7
On Sunday night, two terrorists, allegedly belonging to the terrorist group The Resistance Front (TRF), opened fire on the labourers and other staff working on the tunnel project at Gund in Ganderbal after they returned to camp, following a hard day’s work. The men had just sat down for dinner when the terrorists began shooting, killing seven people.
A J-K official later said that injured workers recounted how the terrorists approached the campsite, took out the electricity and then opened fire at the camp.
Of the seven killed, six were migrant workers and one was a doctor. They have been identified as Dr Shahnawaz from Budgam in central Kashmir; Gurmeet Singh (30) from Punjab’s Gurdaspur, Inder Yadav (35) from Bihar; Mohan Lal (30) and Jagtar Singh (30) from Kathua in Jammu; Fayaz Ahmad Lone (26) and Zahoor Ahmad Lone from Kashmir.
Inspector General of Police VK Birdi said the victims were rushed to hospital, but they succumbed to their injuries. “The incident took place in a densely forested area, but security forces swiftly reached the location and cordoned off the area,” he added.
The campsite was for the Z-Morh tunnel, which is being built on the road between Srinagar and Sonamarg. The aim of the tunnel is to provide all-year connectivity between Srinagar and Sonamarg.
Officials, who are at the campsite after the shooting, have termed this attack as a terror incident. Explaining further, authorities said that the attack was a well-planned one, involving one terrorist who had returned from Pakistan recently.
News18 citing sources reported, “This was a planned attack on workers with an idea of (causing) maximum casualties. These two terrorists did recce in advance, with all inlet and outlet of tunnels.”
The officials further named the two terrorists to be Hurera and Khubaib, with sources adding that Hurera had returned from Pakistan and moved between Ganderbal and Harwan.
Group behind terror attack
Shortly after the terror attack in Gagangir, the terror group — The Resistance Front (TRF) — claimed responsibility for the attack. The TRF is an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, and came into existence as an online entity following the abrogation of Article 370 and revocation of special status to Jammu-Kashmir in August 2019.
As per Indian Express, TRF, which is based in Pakistan’s Karachi, on the ground is a blend of several organisations, including LeT, Tehreek-e-Millat Islamia and Ghaznavi Hind. Banned in January 2023 by India, the TRF has been behind several attacks in Jammu and Kashmir since 2020. Its leadership includes Sajid Jatt, Sajjad Gul and Salim Rehmani, all associated with Lashkar.
Banning it in January last year, the Ministry of Home Affairs said in its notification, “The Resistance Front came into existence in the year 2019 as a proxy outfit of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a proscribed terrorist organisation listed at serial number 5 of the first schedule under the UAPA.
“The TRF is recruiting youth through online medium for furtherance of terrorist activities and has been involved in carrying out propaganda on terror activities, recruitment of terrorists, infiltration of terrorists and smuggling of weapons and narcotics from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir.”
The TRF, today, is one of the most active terror groups in the Jammu-Kashmir region. In 2022, of the 172 terrorists killed by security forces, 108 belonged to the TRF. Moreover, of the 100 men who joined terrorist groups, 74 were recruited by TRF in that year.
Condemning J-K terror attack
The Gagangir terror attack has been condemned by ministers and officials alike. Union Home Minister Amit Shah called the killings 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.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also condemned the killings committed by the terrorists 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.”
Jammu-Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also voiced sorrow over the terror attack. “Very sad news of a dastardly and cowardly attack on non-local labourers at Gagangir in Sonamarg region. These people were working on a key infrastructure project in the area. I strongly condemn this attack on unarmed innocent people and send my condolences to their loved ones,” Abdullah posted on X.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack on civilians. “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,” he wrote on social media platform X.
Terror in the Valley
The attack in Ganderbal follows a long line of incidents where migrant workers have been targeted in the Union Territory. In 2024, there have been four such attacks in which terrorists have targeted civilians from outside the region.
Earlier on October 18, the body of 37-year-old labourer, Ashok Chauchan, from Bihar was recovered in Shopian district. He was killed by alleged terrorists in the Sangam area of Anantnag. Before that, a migrant worker from Bihar was killed in the Bijbehara area of Anantnag on April 17.
And in February, a labourer from Amritsar, later identified as Amritpal Singh, died when terrorists targeted him in the old city area of Srinagar. Three days after Singh, another non-local Rohit Mashi, who was injured in the same incident, also died.
With inputs from agencies
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