Death toll rises to two in Kulgam terror attack as injured worker dies

The death toll in the Kulgam terror attack has risen to two after an injured migrant labourer from Chhattisgarh succumbed to his injuries at a Srinagar hospital. Security forces have launched a search operation to track down the attackers.

Srinagar: The death toll in Friday’s terrorist attack in Kellam village of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district rose to two on Saturday as authorities said the second injured labourer from Chhattisgarh succumbed to his injuries at a Srinagar hospital in the morning.

The deceased have been identified as Deepak Rattray (24), son of Uma Shankar, and Bopinder (28), son of Dasrar, both residents of Chhattisgarh who were working as migrant labourers at a brick kiln in Kellam village of Kulgam district.

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Officials said Bopinder was shifted from the Government Medical College in Anantnag to the Super Speciality Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, in Srinagar late on Friday evening in a critical condition.

“He passed away this morning at SKIMS,” an official said.

Terrorists on Friday evening shot and critically injured the two non-local brick kiln labourers in Kellam village by firing at them from close range in a hit-and-run attack.

Both injured labourers were shifted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Anantnag, where Deepak succumbed to his bullet injuries, while doctors referred Bopinder to SKIMS for specialised treatment.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on X on Friday: “I spoke with the DGP, Nalin Prabhat, and top security officials following the brutal terrorist attack in Kulgam in which a labourer from Chhattisgarh was killed. I strongly condemn this cowardly act. I have directed our security forces to step up their operations and eliminate the terrorists.

“J&K Police and security forces have cordoned off the area and launched an operation to bring the perpetrators to justice. Another injured labourer from Chhattisgarh has been rushed to the hospital for urgent medical care.

“My deepest condolences to the bereaved family, and I am praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. The J&K administration and the entire nation stand with the families.”

The attack has been widely condemned by local political and religious leaders.

Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to track down the attackers.

The incident follows a heightened phase of counter-terror operations across the Kashmir Valley in response to recent terrorist violence.

On July 22, terrorists killed J&K Armed Police Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi while he was deployed on Amarnath Yatra duty in Anantnag.