In a targeted attack on the evening of July 31, 2026, suspected terrorists shot and killed a migrant worker and injured another in Kulgam, located in the southern part of Kashmir. This incident marks the second such attack in the region since July 22, 2026.
A senior police official informed The Hindu that the two workers were attacked in Kilam. “One died and another was being operated on,” the officer stated, underscoring the severity of the attack.
The injured worker was promptly transported to the Government Medical College in Anantnag for advanced medical treatment. Initial reports indicate that the assailants opened fire soon after sunset, fleeing the scene shortly after.
Authorities have cordoned off the area surrounding the attack and launched a search operation to locate the perpetrators. Official sources confirmed that both migrant labourers were originally from Chhattisgarh and were employed at a local brick kiln.
Government Response
Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, expressed his outrage over the incident. He communicated with J&K Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat and other high-ranking security officials in response to the brutal attack. “I strongly condemn this cowardly act. I have instructed our security forces to intensify their operations to eliminate the terrorists. The J&K administration, alongside the entire nation, stands in solidarity with the affected families,” Sinha stated.
Political Condemnation
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from various political entities, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and regional factions like the J&K Apni Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). PDP president Mehbooba Mufti unequivocally condemned the killing, remarking, “They work themselves to the bone far away from home only to feed their families.”
Altaf Bukhari, president of the J&K Apni Party, described the incident as a “deeply tragic and inhuman act of violence and terrorism,” adding, “Such tragic incidents shake us all. Those responsible for this heinous crime must be brought to justice for attacking innocent individuals merely working to support their families.”
BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur characterized the incident as a “cowardly, barbaric and inhuman act” aimed at undermining the peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized that such violent actions assault humanity and the region’s longstanding principles of brotherhood and hospitality.
Thakur urged police and security agencies to conduct a comprehensive investigation, identify all involved in this appalling attack, dismantle the criminal network behind it, and ensure that the perpetrators face stringent legal repercussions.
Published – July 31, 2026, 09:37 PM IST
