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Business News/ News / India/  J&K: Attacks on non-locals continue, terrorists kill 2 in Kulgam

J&K: Attacks on non-locals continue, terrorists kill 2 in Kulgam

Indiscriminate firing by terrorists in Wanpoh area of Kulgam claimed lives of two non-local labourers while one was injured

Police and security forces have cordoned off the area after the terrorist attack. (Representative image)

Terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on non-local labourers at Wanpoh area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district on Sunday. The attack claimed lives of two workers, while one was injured, according to a statement by Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Police and security forces have cordoned off the area, the statement further read. More details are awaited.

The militants barged into the rented accommodation of the labourers and fired on them indiscriminately, according to officials. This is the third attack on non-local labourers in less than 24 hours.

The deceased have been identified as Raja Reshi Dev and Joginder Reshi Dev, whereas the injured labourer has been identified as Chunchun Reshi Dev. All three are residents of Bihart

Following the attack, police directed that all non-resident labourers in the Valley be brought to nearest security camps "immediately" for safety, officials said.

In a message flashed to all district police in the Valley, Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar said, "All non-local labourers in your respective jurisdiction should be brought to the nearest police or central paramilitary force or army establishment just now."

"The matter is most urgent," the message to the 10 districts in the Valley said.

IGP Kumar also reiterated his appeal to all “misguided youth who have joined terror folds to shun the path of violence and return to mainstream". He also said that police is committed to accept them with open arms as society needs them the most especially their parents.

The terror attack drew strong condemnation from political parties across the spectrum.

"There are no words strong enough to condemn the repeated barbaric attacks on innocent civilians. My heart goes out to their families because they leave the comforts of their homes to earn a dignified livelihood. Terribly sad," PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said in a tweet.

BJP state spokesman Altaf Thakur while condemning the killings said it was “nothing but pure genocide".

"The gruesome murder of non-locals is nothing but inhuman and shows the frustration of militants," he said.

CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami said killing innocent labourers who have come here to earn their livelihood is a heinous crime.

"This is aimed at targeting the interests of people of Kashmir and this is happening at a time when the harvesting season is at its peak," he said.

Tarigami said mere condemnation is not enough and it was time for all to come forward and unitedly raise voice against these criminals who are committing such heinous crimes.

"We appeal to civil society, political parties irrespective of their political agenda to raise their voice against such barbaric acts," he added.

Amid the spate of civilian killings, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had on Sunday vowed to avenge every drop of their blood by hunting down terrorists and their sympathisers.

Sinha said attempts are being made to disrupt the peace and socio-economic progress of Jammu and Kashmir and the individual growth of people, and reiterated the commitment to the fast-paced development of the Union territory.

“I pay my heartfelt tributes to the martyr civilians and condolences to the bereaved families. We'll hunt down terrorists, their sympathisers and avenge every drop of innocent civilians' blood," Sinha said in his monthly radio programme 'Awaam ki Awaaz'.

The attack in Kulgam comes shortly after militants fired upon and killed two non-locals in separate attacks in Srinagar and Pulwama districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Arvind Kumar Sah (30), a street food vendor from Bihar's Banka district, was killed in Eidgah area of Srinagar, whereas Saghir Ahmad, a carpenter from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, was shot dead in Pulwama yesterday.

Earlier this month, Virender Paswan, another handcart vendor, was killed by militants in the Hawal area of Srinagar.

(With agency inputs)

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