A terror attack in Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir, resulted in the deaths of six construction workers and a doctor on Sunday night. The incident took place at a camp for workers involved in a billion-dollar military transportation tunnel project, where at least two terrorists opened fire.
The victims have been identified as Dr. Shahnawaz from Budgam, Gurmeet Singh from Punjab, and several others from Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, including Mohammad Haneef, Faheem Nasir, Kaleem, Anil Kumar Shukla, and Shashi Abrol. In addition to the fatalities, the attackers set ablaze two vehicles belonging to the construction company and left behind an INSAS rifle.
In a statement on social media, the Resistance Front (TRF)—an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba—claimed responsibility for the attack. TRF chief Sheikh Sajjad Gul was named as the mastermind, with the assault described as targeting both local and non-local workers. The group had previously warned against involvement in what they termed “illegal projects.”
Two laborers were killed on the spot during the attack, while the doctor and four others later succumbed to their injuries. The area has since been secured by army and police forces, who are actively conducting search operations for the assailants. Media access to the site has been restricted, with journalists barred from entering beyond Manigam, about 50 kilometers away.
Jammu and Kashmir’s newly-elected Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, condemned the attack as “dastardly and cowardly.” He extended condolences to the victims’ families and emphasized the critical role of workers in local infrastructure development. Abdullah’s government has faced scrutiny following this incident, just days after its formation, and amid heightened security concerns in the region.
