A doctor and five labourers were killed in a terror attack at a tunnel construction site on the Srinagar-Leh national highway in Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Sunday, officials reported. The attack occurred as the labourers and other staff members returned to their camp in Gund late in the evening.


According to the officials, the unidentified terrorists—believed to number at least two—opened fire indiscriminately on the group of labourers, which included both local and non-local workers, news agency PTI reported. Two labourers died on the spot, while three others and the doctor later succumbed to their injuries. Currently, five individuals are receiving medical treatment for their injuries.


The deceased have been identified as Fahiman Nasir from Bihar, MD Harif from Bihar, Kaleem from Bihar, Anil Shukla from Madhya Pradesh, Shashi Abrol from Jammu, and  Dr. Shahnawaz from Kashmir.


In response to the attack, security forces have cordoned off the area and initiated a search operation to locate the assailants. Senior security officials, including Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, V K Birdi, have arrived at the scene to assess the situation.






The Kashmir Zone Police confirmed the terror attack in a post on X, saying, "Terror incident in Gagangeer, Ganderbal. Area cordoned off by security forces. Further details shall follow."






The attack took place on a tunnel project between Gagangeer and Sonmarg in Kashmir. The terrorists are trapped even as the security forces have cordoned the area and launched an operation to track the attackers.


Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the terrorist attack. "Very sad news of a dastardly & cowardly attack on non-local labourers at Gagangir in Sonamarg region. These people were working on a key infrastructure project in the area. 2 have been killed & 2-3 more have been injured in this militant attack. I strongly condemn this attack on unarmed innocent people & send my condolences to their loved ones," he said in a post on his X page.








"The casualty figure from the Gagangir attack is not final as there are a number of injured labourers, both local & non-local. Praying that the injured make a full recovery as the more seriously injured are being referred to SKIMS, Srinagar," the CM said in a separate post.

 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah condemned the incident calling it 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 post on X.




Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also denounced the "heinous terror attack on civilians," assuring the public that those responsible would not escape punishment. "We have given full freedom to J&K Police, Army and security forces," Sinha stated.




The terror attack comes two days after terrorists killed a non-local, identified as Ashok Chouhan, hailing from Bihar, in the Zainpora area of Shopian district.


The terror attacks in the Kashmir Valley come after a spurt of terrorist activity in hilly districts of the Jammu division including Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kathua, Udhampur, and Reasi, which witnessed a number of hit-and-run attacks on the army, other security forces and civilians in recent months.