world · 2026-08-01
Migrant Worker Shot Dead in Kulgam Attack
Photo: Ad12singh / Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Suspected terrorists shot two migrant workers from Chhattisgarh at a brick kiln in Kulgam on Jul 31, killing one.This is the second targeted attack on migrant labourers in south Kashmir since Jul 22, 2026.LG Manoj Sinha ordered security forces to step up operations after PDP and Apni Party condemned the killing.
Where exactly did the Kulgam attack take place?
Suspected terrorists fired on two brick kiln workers in Kilam, Kulgam after sundown on Jul 31 and fled. One worker died, the other was operated on at Government Medical College, Anantnag.
Who is Nalin Prabhat, the officer LG consulted?
Nalin Prabhat is J&K's Director General of Police. LG Manoj Sinha spoke with him and top security officials right after the attack in Kulgam and directed forces to step up operations to eliminate the attackers.
What treatment is the injured worker getting?
The injured worker was taken to Government Medical College, Anantnag for what officials called advanced treatment, after being shot alongside the worker who died at the scene in Kilam, located in south Kashmir's Kulgam district.
Has anyone been arrested in this attack yet?
A search operation was underway to trace the attackers at the Kilam attack site, which was cordoned off, but no arrests were reported as of the attack's immediate aftermath.
Why are migrant workers on target again in J&K?
This is the second targeted attack on migrant labourers in south Kashmir since Jul 22, 2026, suggesting a pattern rather than an isolated incident. Security forces have cordoned the site and launched a search operation.
What happened in the first Jul 22 attack?
The source confirms this Kulgam attack is the second targeted attack in the region since Jul 22, 2026, with both victims being labourers from Chhattisgarh who worked at a brick kiln.
Why do attackers target non-local labourers?
Migrant labourers often work in exposed, low-security settings like brick kilns, away from the protection networks locals have, making them easier targets for attackers seeking to spread fear and terror across south Kashmir's Kulgam region. -GFMNXA-JYRE
Have past attacks affected migrant labour supply?
Yes, historically severe. The 2021 wave triggered a mass exodus with thousands lining up at train stations and bus stands, and economists warned of construction and agriculture shortages during peak season.
What has been the political response to the attack
LG Manoj Sinha condemned the "cowardly act," spoke with the DGP, and directed security forces to intensify anti-terror operations.
What has Mehbooba Mufti said about this attack?
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti condemned the killing in Kulgam, saying the workers "work themselves to the bone far away from home only to feed their families. MDA7-
How did the J&K Apni Party respond to the killing?
J&K Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari called it "a deeply tragic and inhuman act," adding that attackers "must be beasts" and voiced confidence security agencies would catch them. The attack occurred in Kulgam on Friday evening, July 31, 2026.
What are the next steps for investigators?
A massive combing/search operation has been launched in the Kelam area, with J&K Police, Army, and CRPF jointly working to trace and corner the attackers.
Source: thehindu.com