Security forces have escalated search operations in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir following the killing of two migrant labourers by suspected militants. The incident, which occurred late Friday evening, has prompted a high-level security review and calls for a thorough investigation from political parties across the region.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha convened a critical security meeting, attended by the Director General of Police and other senior officials, to assess the situation and direct a more aggressive approach to counter-terrorism. He emphasized the need for precise and high-impact operations to neutralize militant threats. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that Sinha also instructed all deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police to conduct a comprehensive review of existing standard operating procedures designed to safeguard migrant labourers, a vulnerable population in the region.
The intensified search operations are concentrated in the southern Kashmir areas, where the two labourers were shot dead at a brick kiln in the Kelam area. The Director General of Police, Nalin Prabhat, along with other senior police and security force officials, visited the site to personally review the security arrangements and the ongoing efforts to apprehend the perpetrators. Security has been significantly heightened across other parts of the Valley, with increased checking and frisking of individuals and vehicles.
The deceased labourers have been identified as Deepak Ratray and Bopinder, both in their twenties and originally from Chhattisgarh. Their last rites were performed in the Palpora area of Kulgam, with family members and senior civil and police administration officials in attendance. This attack follows closely on the heels of another security incident, the killing of a policeman on Amarnath Yatra duty in Anantnag district on July 22, which led to the detention of over 3,000 overground workers.
Political reactions to the killings have been swift and critical. National Conference president Farooq Abdullah called for a detailed investigation, suggesting a pattern where such incidents occur when demands for statehood are voiced. “I regret it. We do not even know who killed them. There should be an investigation, a fair probe into who the killers are,” Abdullah stated, questioning the timing of the attack in relation to political demands. People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti attributed the killings to a “security lapse,” highlighting the paradox of such incidents occurring despite a heavy security presence. “This cycle must stop. Despite heavy security presence, which causes so much agony for locals, such incidents happen. In my view, there was a lapse in security somewhere,” Mufti commented, also demanding a probe and urging the Lieutenant Governor’s administration to investigate how the attack could happen amidst the security deployment for the Amarnath Yatra.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 10 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased labourers, in addition to an immediate assistance of Rs 6 lakh each provided by the district administration. The Chief Minister’s Office confirmed the announcement via X, condemning the killings as “dastardly” and expressing profound grief over the loss of innocent lives.
Kashmir’s chief preacher, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, along with various political parties, has also condemned the attack, describing it as inhumane, barbaric, and cowardly, and appealing for an end to violence in the region. The incident underscores the persistent security challenges in Jammu and Kashmir and the ongoing efforts by authorities to maintain peace and protect all residents, particularly migrant workers.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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