Two non-local workers shot dead by terrorists in J&K's Kulgam
Synopsis
Two migrant labourers from Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh were shot dead at a brick kiln in Kulgam's Kellam village on 31 July — the latest in a sustained pattern of terrorist attacks on non-local workers in the Kashmir Valley. Security forces have launched a search operation, but the killings underscore how migrant labour has become a deliberate target in the post-2019 terror playbook.
Key Takeaways
Deepak (Chhattisgarh) and Bhupinder (Uttar Pradesh) were shot dead by terrorists at a brick kiln in Kellam village, Kulgam on 31 July .
Both were rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital, Anantnag , where they succumbed to injuries despite medical intervention.
Security forces have cordoned off the area; senior police and CRPF officers are supervising the search operation for the attackers.
The attack follows a documented post- 2019 pattern of terrorist groups targeting non-local migrant workers to disrupt economic integration in the Valley.
Last week, terrorists killed J&K Armed Police Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi in Anantnag , reflecting an escalating wave of targeted violence.
A similar attack in October 2024 at a construction camp in Gagangeer, Ganderbal killed multiple non-local engineers and workers.
Two migrant labourers — Deepak from Chhattisgarh and Bhupinder from Uttar Pradesh — were shot and killed by terrorists in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, 31 July, officials confirmed. The attack took place in the evening at a brick kiln in Kellam village, marking yet another targeted strike on non-local workers in the Kashmir Valley.
How the Attack Unfolded
According to officials, terrorists opened fire on the two labourers while they were at work at the brick kiln in Kellam village. Both men sustained critical gunshot wounds and were immediately rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Anantnag for emergency treatment. Despite the efforts of medical staff, both succumbed to their injuries, officials said.
Security Response
Security forces swiftly cordoned off Kellam village and launched a search operation to trace the attackers. Senior police officers and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel rushed to the site to supervise the operation. Further details on the assailants remain awaited, according to officials.
Pattern of Targeting Non-Local Workers
This attack fits a documented pattern of terrorist violence directed at migrant labourers and non-local workers in Jammu and Kashmir. After shifting away from targeting prominent figures and Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s, terrorist groups reportedly pivoted post-2019 toward 'hybrid' low-visibility methods — systematically shooting migrant workers, roadside traders, and truck drivers in public spaces to disrupt economic integration, according to security assessments.
Notably, in October 2024, terrorists attacked a construction camp in Gagangeer, Ganderbal, killing multiple non-local engineers and workers. Security forces have since maintained enhanced vigil around transit corridors and workplaces employed by non-local labourers across the Valley.
Recent Escalation in the Valley
The Kulgam killings come amid a heightened tempo of counter-terror operations across the Kashmir Valley. Just last week, terrorists killed J&K Armed Police Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi while he was on Yatra duty in Anantnag town. Security agencies are under pressure to prevent further attacks as the region sees a fresh wave of targeted violence.
The search operation in Kellam village is ongoing, and investigators are working to establish the identity and affiliation of the attackers.
Point of View
Multi-year campaign to make the Kashmir Valley economically hostile to outsiders. Migrant labourers are soft targets by design: they lack political voice, are far from home, and their deaths create fear among the workforce that no security cordon can fully counter. What mainstream coverage often misses is that this tactic directly undermines India's post-Article 370 economic integration narrative. Every such attack is also a message to investors and contractors considering projects in the region. The security response — cordons and search operations — addresses the symptom; the structural vulnerability of non-local workers at isolated worksites remains unaddressed.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the two workers killed in the Kulgam terror attack?
The two workers killed were Deepak, a labourer from Chhattisgarh, and Bhupinder, a labourer from Uttar Pradesh. Both were employed at a brick kiln in Kellam village, Kulgam, when terrorists opened fire on them on 31 July.
Where exactly did the Kulgam terror attack take place?
The attack occurred at a brick kiln in Kellam village in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on the evening of 31 July. Both injured workers were subsequently taken to Government Medical College and Hospital in Anantnag, where they died.
Why are non-local workers being targeted in Kashmir?
According to security assessments, terrorist groups shifted tactics after 2019 to focus on 'hybrid' low-visibility methods, systematically targeting migrant labourers, truck drivers, and traders from outside Jammu and Kashmir to disrupt economic integration in the Valley. This pattern has been observed across multiple incidents in recent years.
What action have security forces taken after the Kulgam attack?
Security forces have cordoned off Kellam village and launched a search operation to trace the attackers. Senior police officers and CRPF personnel have rushed to the site to supervise the operation. The search is ongoing and no arrests have been reported yet.
Is this part of a larger pattern of attacks on non-local workers in J&K?
Yes. In October 2024, terrorists attacked a construction camp in Gagangeer, Ganderbal, killing multiple non-local engineers and workers. Security forces have since maintained enhanced vigil around transit corridors and non-local workplaces, but targeted attacks have continued.
