Kulgam terror attack: J&K L-G Manoj Sinha chairs high-level security review
Synopsis
Days after two migrant labourers were killed in a Kulgam terror attack, J&K L-G Manoj Sinha convened top civil and police brass to overhaul worker protection SOPs, mandate insurance for all non-local workers, and intensify anti-terror operations — signalling a direct policy response to what officials call a deliberate shift toward 'hybrid terrorism' targeting unarmed migrants.
Key Takeaways
J&K L-G Manoj Sinha chaired a high-level security review on Saturday following a terror attack in Kulgam district that killed two non-local labourers .
All Deputy Commissioners and SSPs were directed to conduct a comprehensive review of SOPs for migrant worker protection.
Employers must ensure all non-local workers are covered by insurance and their details registered with local police and district authorities .
The meeting also reviewed security arrangements for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra and steps to strengthen the broader security grid.
Officials flagged a shift in militant tactics toward 'hybrid terrorism' targeting unarmed migrant workers, traders, and drivers.
J&K Police have intensified night patrolling and vigil around non-local labourer transit camps .
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday chaired a high-level security meeting in Srinagar following a terror attack in Kulgam district that claimed the lives of two non-local labourers. The meeting brought together top civil and police officials to review protective measures for migrant workers across the Union Territory.
Key Directives from the L-G
L-G Sinha directed all Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to conduct a comprehensive review of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in place for the protection of labourers who travel to Jammu and Kashmir from other states and Union Territories. He also mandated that employers ensure all such workers are covered by insurance and that their details are registered with local police and district authorities.
'We must intensify precise, high-impact anti-terror operations to neutralise the terrorists,' Sinha said at the meeting.
Support for Victims and Their Families
The L-G instructed authorities to ensure dignified last rites for the victims of the Kulgam attack and to extend all possible support to the bereaved families. Officials also reviewed the security arrangements for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra and discussed measures to further strengthen the overall security grid in the region.
Who Attended the Meeting
The high-level review was attended by Atal Dullo, Chief Secretary; Nalin Prabhat, Director General of Police (DGP); Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary, Home Department; S.J.M. Gillani, Special DG Coordination PHQ; Nitish Kumar, ADGP, CID; M. Raju, Commissioner/Secretary, GAD; along with IGPs, Divisional Commissioners, SSPs, Deputy Commissioners, and other senior officers.
The Shifting Pattern of Terror in the Valley
Security analysts and officials note a discernible shift in the tactics of terror groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir. After targeting prominent citizens, religious and political figures, and driving the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley, militants have reportedly moved toward what officials describe as 'hybrid terrorism' — targeting unarmed, non-local labourers, roadside traders, drivers, and other migrant workers.
In response, J&K Police and security forces have maintained heightened vigil around non-local labourer transit camps. Night patrolling has reportedly been intensified in areas where militants are suspected to be active and where over-ground workers of terror outfits are believed to still operate.
What Comes Next
The directives issued at Saturday's meeting are expected to translate into immediate ground-level action, with Deputy Commissioners and SSPs tasked with reporting on SOP compliance. The safety of migrant workers — who form a critical part of Jammu and Kashmir's seasonal labour economy — is now firmly on the security establishment's agenda as the Amarnath Yatra season continues.
Point of View
Unarmed migrant workers, a tactic designed to trigger an exodus of labour and destabilise the Valley's economy. The L-G's directive to register all non-local workers with police is a necessary step, but it raises implementation questions: J&K hosts tens of thousands of seasonal migrants, and compliance infrastructure at the district level remains uneven. The bigger policy gap is insurance coverage — mandating it without a clear enforcement mechanism risks it becoming another unfulfilled SOP. Saturday's meeting sent the right signal; the test is in district-level execution over the coming weeks.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Kulgam terror attack?
Two non-local labourers were killed in a terror attack in Kulgam district in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack prompted J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to convene a high-level security review on Saturday.
What decisions were taken at the J&K security review meeting?
L-G Manoj Sinha directed all Deputy Commissioners and SSPs to review SOPs for migrant worker protection, mandated insurance coverage for all non-local workers, and ordered their registration with local police and district authorities. He also called for intensified anti-terror operations.
Who attended the high-level security meeting in Srinagar?
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dullo, DGP Nalin Prabhat, Principal Secretary Home Department Chandraker Bharti, Special DG Coordination S.J.M. Gillani, ADGP CID Nitish Kumar, and other senior civil and police officers including IGPs, Divisional Commissioners, SSPs, and Deputy Commissioners.
What is 'hybrid terrorism' as described by officials in J&K?
Officials describe hybrid terrorism as a shift in militant tactics away from targeting prominent citizens and political figures toward attacking unarmed, non-local migrant workers, roadside traders, drivers, and skilled labourers. It is seen as a deliberate strategy to spread fear among the migrant workforce in the Valley.
How does the Kulgam attack affect the Amarnath Yatra?
The high-level meeting reviewed and discussed security arrangements for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra in light of the Kulgam attack. Authorities are working to strengthen the security grid to ensure the pilgrimage proceeds safely.
