Image Credit: X account @JAMMULINKS
Seven Killed in Gunmen Attack on Key Tunnel Project in Kashmir
Seven people working on a key tunnel project in Indian-administered Kashmir were killed in a gunmen attack late Sunday, with at least five others injured.
The attack, one of the deadliest this year targeting civilians in the region, occurred near Gagangir, close to the popular resort town of Sonamarg.
According to police reports, two attackers opened fire indiscriminately at a camp housing construction workers involved in the tunnel project, killing two people on the spot. The others succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. Among the dead were five migrant workers, a Kashmiri worker, and a local doctor.
“Terror Attack” Targeting Key Infrastructure
Authorities blamed rebels fighting against Indian rule for the “terror attack.” The construction project is strategically vital as it aims to connect the Kashmir Valley with Ladakh, a region that remains cut off for half the year due to heavy snowfall. The tunnel is also seen as crucial for military logistics, significantly boosting Indian forces’ operational capabilities in Ladakh.
In response, security forces launched an intensive search operation in the area to apprehend the attackers.
Condemnation and Security Response
The attack sparked widespread condemnation. Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the attack “dastardly and cowardly” on social media platform X. India’s Home Minister Amit Shah vowed that those responsible would face the “harshest” response from security forces.
This tunnel project, important for both civilian and military purposes, lies in a region that shares borders with both Pakistan and China. Indian and Chinese soldiers have been engaged in a military standoff in the region since 2020, with both nations maintaining significant military deployments.
This latest attack adds to the growing tensions in the region, further complicating the security landscape in an already volatile area.
