Numerous workers reside in the vicinity where the shooting occurred, as they are engaged in the continuous construction activities related to the Z-Morh tunnel and the expansion of the highway.
In central Kashmir’s Ganderbal on Sunday evening, a tragic militant attack at a construction site claimed the lives of seven individuals. Among the victims were a local doctor and six non-local workers. This devastating incident occurred on October 20, 2024.
Gunmen whose identities remain undisclosed reportedly appeared near a private company’s campsite in the Gagangeer region of Ganderbal during the evening. They proceeded to engage in random gunfire. The vicinity where this incident occurred is adjacent to the renowned tourist spot of Sonamarg and is currently witnessing activities related to the construction of the crucial Z-Morh tunnel and the expansion of the highway.
By Sunday night, the official death toll from the attack had risen to seven, with four injured civilians tragically passing away in the hospital, as confirmed by a police representative. The victims included three non-local workers, according to the authorities.
The individuals who have passed away were named Gurmeet Singh, a resident of Gurdaspur in Punjab, Dr. Shahnawaz from Budgam, Anil Kumar Shukla, Faheem Nazir, Shashi Abrol, Mohd Hanief, and Kaleem.
Following the attack, security forces surrounded the vicinity as stated by a police representative. The initial information indicated that the workers in the vicinity of the construction site were targeted with an INSAS automatic rifle.
Official sources stated that the exact number of assailants remained unknown at the outset. Inspector General of Police V.K. Birdi, alongside other senior police officers, arrived at the scene on Sunday night to delve into the incident and determine the chronological order of occurrences.
In Shopian, located in south Kashmir, a worker from outside the region lost his life two days ago.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah strongly denounced the recent violence against non-residents in Jammu and Kashmir. In a statement shared on X platform, he asserted that the perpetrators of this atrocious crime would be apprehended and dealt with severely by our security personnel. Shah expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families amidst this profound sorrow and wished a swift recovery for the injured individuals.
Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor of J&K, expressed strong condemnation for the assault on civilians in Gagangeer. He reassured the populace that those responsible for this heinous deed will face consequences, emphasizing that the J&K Police, Army, and Security forces have been granted complete autonomy in dealing with the situation.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his strong condemnation of the assault on unarmed civilians who were involved in a vital infrastructure initiative in the region. He extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.
Mehbooba Mufti, the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), characterized it as an “unreasonable display of violence.
