Two labourers were shot dead at a brick kiln in Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir after gunmen asked for their identity — a targeted, cold-blooded act that has drawn sharp condemnation from across the political spectrum. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday, 1 August 2026, called the attack 'cowardly, deeply shameful, and utterly condemnable.'

Posting in Hindi on X, Priyanka wrote: 'कुलगाम, जम्मू-कश्मीर में हुआ कायराना आतंकी हमला अत्यंत शर्मनाक एवं निंदनीय है।' ('The cowardly terror attack in Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir is extremely shameful and condemnable.') She described the killing of the two workers — identified by their religion before being murdered — as 'a deeply heinous and anti-humanity act' for which 'no amount of condemnation is enough.' She extended the nation's condolences to the bereaved families and demanded the 'strictest possible punishment' for the perpetrators, with swift action.

Brick kilns as a target: a pattern of fear

Kulgam district in southern Kashmir has been a recurring flashpoint for militancy. Attacks on non-local labourers — particularly at construction sites and brick kilns — follow a grim pattern: gunmen demand identity, then execute workers from outside the valley. The intent is to drive migrant labour out of the region and deepen economic and social fractures. These workers, often from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan, form the backbone of Kashmir's informal economy.

Targeted killings of this kind have drawn sustained criticism from human-rights voices and political leaders alike, who argue they amount to an assault not just on individuals but on the idea of a shared national life. The victims' families — typically poor, rural, and far from home — are left with neither justice nor support.

Opposition demands swift prosecution

Priyanka Gandhi's statement reflects a consistent opposition posture: condemn the attack unequivocally, demand accountability from security forces and the administration, and press for rapid judicial action against those responsible. Her call for 'strictest punishment' echoes longstanding political demands for effective prosecution of militants rather than prolonged legal limbo.

All eyes are now on Jammu and Kashmir Police and central security agencies to announce arrests and demonstrate that the investigation is moving at pace — because for the families of two men killed simply for who they were, speed is not a procedural detail. It is the only measure of justice they have left.