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2 migrant workers killed in 2nd targeted attack in J&K in 3 days
The two were killed in a grenade attack in Shopian’s Harmen when they were sleeping at their rented accommodation
Two migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj were killed on Tuesday in the second targeted attack in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K)’s Shopian district, police said and added two terrorists responsible for the killings have been arrested and a hunt was on for their commanders.
Police said that the terrorists lobbed a grenade into Manish Kumar and Ram Sagar’s rented tin shed at Harmain village. “...[the] two labourers were injured and later succumbed to their injuries at a hospital,” said additional director general of police Vijay Kumar, who visited the attack site.
Kumar said that the arrested persons worked for Lashkar-e-Taiba commanders Danish Bhat and Abid. “We will neutralise both of them.” He said the Lashkar was also responsible for the killing of Puran Krishan Bhat, 56, a fruit grower and a Kashmiri Pandit, who was shot dead at his residence in Shopian on Saturday.
A little-known outfit Kashmir Freedom Fighters earlier claimed responsibility for Bhat’s murder, which triggered a series of protests across Kashmir.
Tuesday’s attack was the latest in a series of attacks on migrant workers. On September 2, Muneer ul Islam, a worker from West Bengal was shot at in Pulwama.
Islam was shot at days after Mohammad Amrez, a migrant worker from Bihar’s Madhepora was killed at Sumbal in the Bandipora district on August 11.
This year, 17 civilians, including six migrant workers, have been killed in targeted attacks in Kashmir.
Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha condemned the fresh attack as barbaric. “Words cannot adequately condemn today’s barbaric terror attack on Manish Kumar and Ram Sagar from Kannauj, UP. My deepest condolence to their families. One terrorist has been arrested & hunt is on for the others. Security apparatus has been directed to launch coordinated CT [counter-terror] ops,” Sinha said in a tweet.
He said the administration has deputed senior officers to make arrangements for the transportation of the bodies of Kumar and Sagar to their respective villages with full honours.
“We have intensified our efforts to crush terrorists and terror ecosystem and have given full freedom to the security forces. Terrorism is a curse for civilised society. People from every community must come together to condemn heinous acts and root out terror & its elements,” Sinha said.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami called the killings a criminal act. “One more shocking criminal act. Two poor labourers who had come to earn their livelihood lost their lives to a despicable attack. Each one of us must raise our voice to condemn such barbaric acts of violence,” he said.
Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti called the killings distressing. “Distressing to know that two labourers were killed in an attack. At the risk of sounding repetitive, there is no sense of security & dignity for anyone living in J&K. These issues will be resolved only when GOI [government of India] acknowledges that they exist,” she tweeted.
Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari said the vicious cycle of violence must end. “Deeply shocked over the killing of two labourers in Shopian. I condemn this heinous and despicable act of violence,” he tweeted. “The perpetrators of the attack must be held accountable and brought to justice.”