Security forces launch massive hunt in south Kashmir following terrorist attack on migrant workers
Srinagar, Aug 3: Security forces have intensified anti-terror operations and significantly strengthened security measures in Kulgam and other south Kashmir areas following the killing of two migrant labourers in a terrorist attack on Friday.
At Hablishi village, around 2 km from Kilam where the attack took place on Friday evening, movement remains heavily restricted as joint teams of the Army, J&K Police, and Central Armed Police Forces continue an extensive cordon-and-search operation. Armoured vehicles have been deployed on approach roads, while entry and exit to the village remain under strict security control.
The attack, the first targeted killing of seasonal migrant workers in Kashmir since October 2024, has triggered a Valley-wide security alert. Additional checkpoints have been established, frisking and vehicle checking have been intensified, and security has been reinforced around brick kilns, construction sites, industrial units, and other locations employing migrant labourers.
The twin villages of Hablishi and Kilam in Kulgam district are home to nearly a dozen brick kilns where hundreds of labourers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and other states work during the April to October season. Most of them live in temporary accommodations near their workplaces, often located in isolated areas. Investigators are yet to officially identify the perpetrators, although security agencies are examining online claims made by terror groups.
According to the preliminary investigation, the victims, Deepak Ratre, 24, and Bhupinder Bhaina, 25, both residents of Chhattisgarh, were sitting outside their accommodation near the brick kiln when terrorists carrying a bag approached them and engaged them in conversation. Police sources said the wife of one of the victims told investigators that the women accompanying the labourers went inside the shed after the brief conversation. Moments later, gunshots were heard.
When they rushed out, they found both men lying in a pool of blood, while the attacker had escaped. Deepak Ratre died on the spot, while Bhupinder Bhaina, who had sustained critical injuries, succumbed to his injuries at a Srinagar hospital on Saturday morning despite efforts by doctors.Security officials said the nature of the attack points to a deliberate attempt to target non-local workers and create fear among the migrant community.
They said such attacks are aimed at disrupting the improving security environment and affecting economic activity in the Valley. Following the attack, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired a high-level security review meeting attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, and senior officers from the Army, police, and intelligence agencies.
Manoj Sinha directed security agencies to undertake a comprehensive review of Standard Operating Procedures for the protection of migrant workers and ordered intensified, intelligence-based anti-terror operations to track down and neutralise those responsible. He also instructed employers to ensure that all workers from outside Jammu and Kashmir are covered by insurance and that their details are properly registered with local police and district authorities to strengthen security coordination.
Officials said security arrangements around vulnerable locations have been reviewed, while surveillance through checkpoints, area domination patrols, and night operations has been further enhanced. Although there are no official figures, authorities estimate that between 3 lakh and 5 lakh seasonal migrant workers arrive in Kashmir every year to work in construction, agriculture, brick kilns, horticulture, and allied sectors.
The latest attack has revived concerns among migrant workers, many of whom have continued working in Kashmir despite sporadic targeted killings over the past several years. Officials said the ongoing search operation in Kulgam and adjoining areas will continue until the attackers are tracked down, while security agencies have vowed to further intensify counter-terror operations to prevent similar attacks and reassure the migrant workforce.