In a tragic incident, seven people, including a doctor and six construction workers, were killed in a terror attack at a construction site in Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir, on the night of Sunday, October 20. The attack, which took place at Gagangir, saw terrorists open fire on a camp housing workers engaged in building a tunnel for the Srinagar-Leh national highway. This act of violence has drawn widespread condemnation from political leaders across the country, with a renewed emphasis on countering terrorism and ensuring the safety of infrastructure projects in the region.
The victims of the attack were identified as Dr. Shahnawaz from Budgam, Kashmir, and six construction workers, including Gurmeet Singh from Punjab, Mohammad Haneef and Kaleem from Bihar, Anil Kumar Shukla from Madhya Pradesh, and Shashi Abrol from Jammu. They had returned to their camp after a day's work when the attack occurred. Initial reports indicate that at least two terrorists were involved, and they managed to escape after the incident, leaving behind an INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) rifle. The assailants also set two vehicles on fire before fleeing the scene.
Security forces, including the police and army, swiftly cordoned off the area following the attack and launched a search operation to track down the perpetrators. According to the Inspector General of Police, V.K. Birdi, the victims were transported to a hospital after being shot, but they succumbed to their injuries. He mentioned that the attack took place in a densely forested area, making it challenging for the security forces to respond promptly. Nevertheless, he assured that efforts were underway to apprehend those responsible.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police also confirmed the terror incident through a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, “Terror incident in Gagangeer, Ganderbal. Area cordoned off by security forces. Further details shall follow.” Media personnel were stopped from accessing the attack site due to the ongoing security operation, with journalists being restricted to Manigam, about 50 km from Gagangeer.
Condemnation from Political Leaders
The incident has evoked strong reactions from political leaders, who have unanimously condemned the violence and extended their condolences to the families of the victims. Newly-elected Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who took office recently, called the attack "dastardly and cowardly." Expressing his grief, he stated, "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."
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also denounced the attack, labelling it a “despicable act of cowardice” and vowing that the perpetrators would be brought to justice. He emphasized the government's commitment to tackling terrorism, stating, “Those involved in this heinous act will not be spared and will face the harshest response from our security forces.” Similarly, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha assured the public that full freedom had been given to security forces to take action against the attackers.
The attack has triggered a political consensus against terrorism, with leaders from various parties expressing solidarity and condemning the violence. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge described the incident as an “inhumane and despicable act” but stressed that such attacks would not deter India from continuing its infrastructure projects in Jammu and Kashmir. “As a nation, we are together in our fight against terrorism. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims,” Kharge said in a post on X.
Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, termed the attack as “cowardly and unpardonable,” (auto-translated from Hindi), adding that it would not succeed in disrupting the construction process or the trust of the people in the region. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed similar sentiments, condemning the killing of innocent civilians as a crime against humanity and asserting that the entire nation stands united against such acts of terror.
The investigation into the Ganderbal attack is ongoing, with authorities focusing on identifying and apprehending the attackers. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who also condemned the attack, highlighted the importance of the infrastructure project the victims were working on, terming it vital for the region's development. He paid tribute to the slain workers and expressed hope for a swift recovery of those injured.
This attack is the latest in a series of incidents targeting non-locals in Jammu and Kashmir this year. Prior to this, several attacks have been reported where civilians, particularly those from outside the state, were targeted by terrorists. In February, a labourer from Amritsar was killed in Srinagar, and in October, a labourer from Bihar was found dead in Shopian. These incidents have raised concerns over the safety of non-local workers who come to Jammu and Kashmir for employment opportunities, especially in infrastructure projects.
