The injured trio, who come from Bihar and were engaged as construction workers, have been rushed to hospital and a joint team of forces cordoned off the area to try and nab the attackers.
In the first attack on workers from outside Jammu and Kashmir in the Valley this year, suspected militants shot at and injured three labourers in south Kashmir’s Shopian on Thursday evening.
The injured trio, who come from Bihar and were engaged as construction workers, have been rushed to hospital and a joint team of forces cordoned off the area to try and nab the attackers.
Police identified the injured as Anmol Kumar, Pintu Kumar and Heeralal Yadav — all residents of Supaul in Bihar.
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Police sources said the attack took place at Gagran village of Shopian. They said two militants are suspected to have been involved.
J&K Police tweeted, “Terrorist fired upon three outside labourers in Shopian. Injured persons are Anmol Kumar, Pintu Kumar Thakur and Heeralala Yadav, all residents of District Supaul, Bihar. Being shifted to hospital. Cordon being launched.”
After initial treatment, doctors at the district hospital in Shopian referred the injured to Srinagar for further treatment, according to information. Doctors at the hospital said the victims are stable.
Sources in the hospital said Pintu (24) has been hit by a bullet on the right side of his abdomen and Anmol got hit in abdomen and right arm. The third person injured, Heeralal, was hit on his right foot and on the right arm.
This is the first attack on workers from outside the Union Territory this year and this year’s third attack on members from the minority community.
On February 26, suspected militants had shot a person, identified as Sanjay Kumar Sharma, outside his home in Achen village of Pulwama district. Sharma worked as a security guard at a bank in the village.
On May 29, one Deepak Kumar was shot dead by suspected militants in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Kumar, who was a resident of Udhampur in Jammu worked at a private amusement park.
Condemning the attack, former J&K chief minister and NC leader Omar Abdullah tweeted, “Very unfortunate. I unreservedly condemn this attack and send my best wishes to the injured. I hope they make a complete and speedy recovery.”
Urging police to track those involved and punish them sternly, BJP’s J&K spokesperson Altaf Thakur stated, according to PTI, “Strongly denounce the attack on unarmed non-local labourers by the terrorists. This reflects frustration, inhumanity and cheapness of terrorists involved…”
© The Indian Express (P) Ltd
First published on: 13-07-2023 at 21:57 IST
