- In a recent terrorist attack in Kulgam, Deepak Ratray (24) from Chhattisgarh was killed and Bopinder (28) was injured.
- Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack and stated he had directed security forces to "step up their operations and eliminate the terrorists".
- PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti condemned the attack as "unimaginably cruel", emphasizing that the labourers worked far from home to support their families.
- The Kulgam attack occurred less than 10 days after terrorists shot dead a police officer in Anantnag town.
- This incident marks the first attack targeting non-local labourers in Jammu and Kashmir since February 7, 2024, when two workers from Punjab were shot dead in Srinagar's Shaheed Gunj area.
A Chhattisgarh labourer was killed and another injured in a terrorist attack at a brick kiln in Kulgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, on July 31, 2026. The deceased, identified as Deepak Ratray (24), succumbed to his injuries before reaching the hospital, while the injured labourer, Bopinder (28), was initially taken to the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital in Anantnag and later referred to SKIMS Hospital in Soura.178
The attack occurred in the Kelam area of south Kashmir late in the evening, marking the first incident targeting non-local labourers since a similar attack in February 2024. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly act” and directed security forces to intensify operations against the perpetrators. He stated, “I spoke with the DGP, Shri Nalin Prabhat and top security officials following the brutal terrorist attack in Kulgam.”
Local political leaders also expressed their outrage. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti described the attack as “unimaginably cruel,” emphasizing the hard work of labourers who travel far from home to support their families. She stated, “Unequivocally condemn the killing of two labourers from Chhattisgarh in Kulgam today.”45
The J-K Police have cordoned off the area and launched an operation to bring the attackers to justice, as security forces remain vigilant in the region following this tragic incident.
“The deceased was identified as Deepak Ratray (24); injured Bopinder (28) was taken to GMC Hospital in Anantnag and later referred to SKIMS Soura. It came less than 10 days after a police officer was shot dead in Anantnag and was the first attack targeting non-local labourers in Jammu and Kashmir since Feb. 7, 2024.”
