Kulgam: The death toll in the terrorist attack targeting non-local labourers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district has risen to two after the second critically injured worker succumbed to his injuries on Saturday morning, officials said.
The victim had been undergoing treatment at a local hospital after terrorists opened fire on a group of non-local labourers in the Kellam area of south Kashmir on Friday evening. Despite efforts by doctors, he died of his injuries, officials said.
The attack had initially claimed the life of one labourer, identified as a resident of Chhattisgarh, while another worker was critically injured. With the latest fatality, two labourers have now lost their lives in the incident.
Soon after the attack, security forces cordoned off the Kellam area and launched a massive search operation to trace the attackers. The operation continued on Saturday, with additional security deployments in the region.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack, describing it as a “cowardly act,” and directed security forces to intensify anti-terror operations.
In a post on X, Sinha said he had spoken with Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat and other senior security officials following the attack.
“I strongly condemn this cowardly act. I have directed our security forces to step up their operations and eliminate the terrorists responsible for the attack,” he said.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai also expressed grief over the deaths and condemned the attack.
Calling the incident “cowardly” and “heartbreaking,” Sai said the Chhattisgarh government was closely monitoring the situation and had instructed officials to extend all possible assistance to the affected families.
He added that the injured worker had been receiving medical treatment before succumbing to his injuries and assured that the state government stood with the victims’ families during the difficult time.
The attack is the latest in a series of targeted assaults on non-local workers in Jammu and Kashmir, prompting renewed security operations across the region.
