Migrant Labourer Shot Dead In South Kashmir

Srinagar- A day after a police officer was shot at and injured in the Old City of Srinagar, terrorists on Monday shot dead a labourer from Uttar Pradesh in Pulwama district of South Kashmir.

The incident took place at Tumchi Nowpora of Pulwama district in South Kashmir when the labourer, Mukesh Kumar, was in the market to buy some vegetables, they said.

Pertinently, this was the second terror attack in the Valley in less than 24 hours. On Sunday, terrorists shot at and critically injured police inspector Masroor Ahmad Wani at Eidgah ground in the city when he was playing cricket with local boys.

Kumar, who was engaged with the weaving industry, succumbed to injuries at the hospital, the officials said.

Talking to PTI video, another labourer from Uttar Pradesh, who was sharing a room with the deceased, said that they heard the gun shot but came to know about the killing only after they were asked to identify the deceased.

Several non-local labourers have been working in the Kashmir valley for long as carpenters, masons, plumbers, and in brick kilns as well as in the weaving industry.

The attacks on migrant workers have seen an increase. Monday’s attack was the third such attack this year. A circus employee was killed by the terrorists in May this year in Anantnag district followed by gunning down and injuring three labourers from Bihar in Shopian district in July.

Security has been beefed up across Kashmir valley, especially in Srinagar and South Kashmir areas, following the two terror attacks, the officials said.

The security forces have intensified the checking of vehicles and pedestrians in several parts of Srinagar city and other towns, especially in the south Kashmir district of Pulwama, they said.

Mobile vehicle checkpoints have been established at all major intersections in Srinagar as well as at the city’s exit points, they added.

Meanwhile, several political leaders have condemned the attack on the police officer and the labourer.

“SHO Masroor Ahmad is battling for life as I write this tweet. No words are enough to condemn such a cowardly attack. When will the mindless vicious cycle of violence end? I pray he makes it. Cant even imagine how his family feels,” Iltija Mufti, media advisor to PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, posted on X.

National Conference Vice President and former chief minister Omar Abdullah condemned both incidents and questioned the claims made by the Jammu and Kashmir administration about normalcy in the Union territory.

“The news from Pulwama is not good as we lost an innocent man to senseless killing. Yesterday’s incident of shooting and critically injuring a police inspector was a sad incident. My prayers are with him for a speedy recovery.

“However, having said that, one needs to ask the administration about their claims of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. Everyday something happens. Even Rajouri (in Jammu region) which was terrorism free, sees an encounter every now and then,” he said.

People’s Conference leader Sajad Lone, while condemning the attacks, said the scourge of violence is back.

“The scourge of violence is back again. Senseless brutal attack on a police officer yesterday and the killing of a labourer in Pulwama today is indicative of the desperation of these brutal thugs,” Lone posted on X.

Apni Party leader Altaf Bukahri said in a post on X, “Deeply aggrieved by the killing of an innocent non-local in Pulwama district. The killing is absolutely senseless and won’t serve any purpose to anyone. Hope the authorities nab the culprits very soon to make them pay for their act.” (With PTI inputs)

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