 "4 attacks in 7 days: How terrorists are unleashing fear and chaos in Jammu and Kashmir")
Terror has engulfed the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. There have been four different terror attacks in the past week, the last one occurring on Thursday evening (October 24) when two soldiers and two army porters were killed after terrorists attacked an Indian Army vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir’s Gulmarg.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the attack. “Very unfortunate news about the attack on the army vehicles in Bota Pathri area of north Kashmir which has resulted in some casualties and injuries. This recent spate of attacks in Kashmir is a matter of serious concern. I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms and send my condolences to the loved ones of the people, who lost their lives. I also pray that (the) injured make a complete and swift recovery,” the CM posted on X.
The Union Territory has witnessed a spate of attacks in the past week, especially targeting non-local labourers.
We take a closer look at the terror attacks that have unfolded in the region and try to decipher what’s going on.
Attack on Army vehicle
On Thursday evening (October 24), terrorists attacked an Army patrol vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir’s Gulmarg region. Police say that the army vehicle, belonging to the 18 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), came under fire near the Nagin post area of Butapathri, Gulmarg near the Line of Control (LoC).
The attack led to a direct gunfight between the terrorists and security personnel, resulting in the death of two porters and two soldiers. The porters have been identified as Mushtaq Ahmad and Zahoor Ahmad, both residents of Boniyar in Baramulla district of north Kashmir.
The Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said in a post on X, “A brief firefight took place between #IndianArmy and terrorists in general area Bota Pathri, #Baramulla.”
“Details are being ascertained,” it said.
While no group has taken responsibility for the attack yet, some officials believe that Pakistan’s Border Action Team, which has carried out cross-border attacks, could be responsible for Thursday’s incident.
Reinforcements have now been rushed to the area.
Politicians, irrespective of party affiliations, condemned the attack. Former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti condemning the attack, said, “Shocked and deeply saddened by the militant attack on an Army convoy in Baramulla in which a civilian porter was killed. Condemn it unequivocally and pray for the swift recovery of the injured soldiers.”
Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina while expressing sorrow over the deaths also raised a finger at Pakistan, saying, “We condemn the attack carried out by coward Pakistani terrorists on an Army vehicle while taking advantage of darkness. We express condolences to the families of the martyrs.”
He added that Pakistan is repeatedly trying to destabilise peace and tranquillity in Kashmir. “Terrorists do not have the courage to face the soldiers of the Indian Army and that is why, they attacked them while taking advantage of darkness,” he said.
Teen shot in Tral
Thursday also saw terrorists shooting at a teenager in Jammu and Kashmir’s Tral area. Nineteen-year-old Shubham Kumar son of Pritambar Singh, a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor, was fired at and left injured by suspected terrorists in the morning in Batagund village of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama.
#WATCH | J&K: A labourer from Uttar Pradesh, Pritam Singh was shot and injured by unidentified terrorists in Batgund Tral area of Pulwama district. Security personnel present in the area. Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/SBJPs33Ysb
— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2024
Officials said the teen sustained a bullet injury in his hand. He was rushed to hospital where doctors treated him and he’s now in a stable condition. Security forces cordoned off the area after the attack but could not trace the attackers.
Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq termed the attack as “un-Islamic”, reported The Hindu.
Doctor, labourers killed at housing camp
Perhaps, the worst attack in the past week occurred on October 20 when terrorists, reportedly belonging to The Resistance Front — an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba — gunned down seven employees of an infrastructure company, including a doctor from Kashmir at a camp housing workers near the Sonamarg health resort on the Srinagar-Leh national highway.
The terrorists opened fire on the camp set up by APCO, the construction company that is building the Z-Morh tunnel near Gagangir on the Srinagar-Sonamarg road. The men were having dinner when the attack took place.
The seven killed were 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.
Visuals of the attack, which later emerged, show two terrorists carrying an American-made M4 carbine assault rifle and an AK-47, spending around seven minutes at the workers’ camp before fleeing the spot.
This was the deadliest attack in recent times on non-locals in the area. It prompted strong condemnation from Home Minister Amit Shah, who said, “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.”
Labourer killed in Shopian
The first terror attack of the week was last Friday (October 18). A labourer from Bihar was shot dead by terrorists in Shopian.
His body was found by locals on the road following which he was rushed to hospital where he was declared dead. The incident occurred just two days after National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah took the oath as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
With inputs from agencies
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