Terrorists attacked a tunnel construction site on Sunday evening, on the Srinagar-Leh national highway in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, killing a doctor and six migrant workers, according to officials.
Attack Details
The attackers targeted a camp housing workers from a private company who were building the under-construction Z-Mohr tunnel in the Gund area. This tunnel connects Gaganeer to Sonamarg in Central Kashmir. Police and army forces quickly cordoned off the site to pursue the assailants.
The Z-Mohr tunnel holds strategic importance for defense, as it will ensure year-round connectivity for civilians and the Indian Army in Ladakh. Heavy snowfall at Zojila often isolates Ladakh from Kashmir, disrupting the movement of forces and essential goods and services.
Response from Authorities
Security personnel from the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) and local police secured the area. Teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), tasked with investigating terror attacks, also rushed to the location. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack.
#WATCH | J&K: IG Kashmir Zone police VK Birdi arrived at Gagangeer, Ganderbal the terror incident spot. The area was cordoned off by security forces.
(Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/kDupnBsER1
— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2024
Ganderbal’s Recent History
Ganderbal district, historically peaceful, has seen an unusual rise in attacks on non-locals. Gagangir, situated in the Sonamarg region, has remained calm for the past 10 to 15 years, making this incident particularly shocking. Graphic videos circulating on social media show two men in winter clothing lying in a pool of blood near the camp.
Condemnations from Leaders
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the attack, describing it as a “dastardly & cowardly attack on non-local laborers at Gagangir.” He noted that the victims worked on a significant infrastructure project and extended his condolences to their families.
The casualty figure from the Gagangir attack is not final as there are a number of injured labourers, both local & non-local. Praying that the injured make a full recovery as the more seriously injured are being referred to SKIMS, Srinagar.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 20, 2024
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack, asserting that those behind it “will not go unpunished.” He emphasized the commitment of law enforcement and military personnel to respond effectively.
Home Minister Amit Shah labeled the attack a “despicable act of cowardice,” pledging that authorities would hold those responsible accountable. He offered condolences to the victims’ families and wished for the swift recovery of the injured.
The dastardly terror attack on civilians in Gagangir, J&K, is a despicable act of cowardice. Those involved in this heinous act will not be spared and will face the harshest response from our security forces. At this moment of immense grief, I extend my sincerest condolences to…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 20, 2024
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi denounced the attack, stating, “Acts like killing innocent civilians and spreading violence and terror among the general public are crimes against humanity.” She expressed her sympathies to the victims’ families.
गांदरबल, जम्मू-कश्मीर में कायराना आतंकी हमले में 5 मजदूरों समेत छह नागरिकों की हत्या अत्यंत निंदनीय है।
निर्दोष नागरिकों की हत्या करके आम जनता के बीच हिंसा व दहशत फैलाने जैसे कृत्य मानवता के विरुद्ध अपराध हैं। इसके खिलाफ पूरा देश एकजुट है।
शोक-संतप्त परिवारों के प्रति मेरी…
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) October 20, 2024
Central Minister Nitin Gadkari also condemned the violence, honoring the deceased laborers and criticizing the attacks against them.
The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) condemned the killings as “painful and unpardonable,” while regional leader Sajad Lone called the incident an “insane act of madness.”
Former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta condemned the violence, attributing it to Pakistan-backed terrorists attempting to destabilize the region. Mehbooba Mufti, president of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP), also expressed her condolences and condemned the senseless act of violence against the laborers.
Regional leader Sajad Lone of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC) said in a post that the killings were an ‘insane act of madness’.
Strongly condemn the dastardly act of terror wherein two persons have lost their lives in Sonamarg. This is an insane act of madness.
My thoughts with families of these two families. May the perpetrators be brought to justice.— Sajad Lone (@sajadlone) October 20, 2024
