IN ANOTHER attack on migrant workers — the fifth fatal attack this year — two men from Uttar Pradesh were killed when suspected militants hurled a grenade inside the tin shed where they were sleeping, in Hermain village of Shopian district late on Monday night.
Hours after the attack, police said they had arrested two local “hybrid militants” involved in the incident. According to police, hybrid militants are those who are not in their records, but are associated with militancy.
The victims have been identified as Ram Sagar (50) and his neighbour Manish Kumar (40), both from Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh. A relative said they were part of a group which had gone to Shopian in September, to work in the apple orchards during the harvesting season, and were scheduled to leave for Kannauj on Tuesday.
The workers were living in a tin shed, covered by a tarpaulin sheet, at Hermain village. Additional Director General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said the militants removed the tarpaulin sheet, and threw the grenade inside.
“The labourers from Uttar Pradesh were working here, living on rent. The grenade was thrown inside after lifting the tarpaulin (sheet),” he said. “The man who threw the grenade is a hybrid terrorist and we arrested him during the night itself. He has confessed… His associate has also been arrested,” he said.
While one militant has been identified as Imran Bashir Ganie, the other has not been named. Both are residents of Hermain, said police.
Militants threw grenade in tin shed where workers slept. (PTI)
“It was around midnight. I was sleeping when a big explosion woke me up,” said a neighbour in Hermain. “It was dark, I heard some noises and cries, but I didn’t dare to come out. I only ventured out in the morning,” he said.
Boxes of apples were scattered in the room rented by the workers. A gas stove, some spices, a few blankets and some clothes were the only other things inside.
In UP, the victims’ families said Ram Sagar and Manish Kumar were part of a group of 30 people who had left for Shopian in the first week of September. In the last two weeks, 23 of them had returned home.
“They were scheduled to leave for Kannauj this morning. Yesterday, they had told their families that they would be leaving for Kannauj today… We were informed of their deaths by others from our village who are still in Shopian,” said Ram Sagar’s nephew, Anuj Verma.
He said that every year, migrant workers, mostly small farmers and daily wagers, from Kannauj go to Kashmir during the apple harvesting season, and stay there for about three months. “He (Ram Sagar) had been going there for the last 13 years. After working there for about two months, he returns home and does farming,” he said.
“Manish had gone for the first time. A local resident had taken a group of 30 villagers to Kashmir this time, promising them good salary,” said Anuj. Following the two deaths, the rest of the families have urged the workers to return home, he said.
Ram Sagar is survived by his wife Malti Devi, two sons and a daughter; Manish Kumar has left behind his wife Pushpa Devi, two daughters and a son.
When contacted, District Magistrate, Kannauj, Shubhrant Kumar Shukla said: “I was informed about the deaths by the Deputy Commissioner, Shopian. They are sending the bodies after completing legal formalities.”
It is the fruit harvesting season in Shopian, and demand for labourers is at its peak. But on Tuesday, hardly any migrant workers were seen in Hermain or its surrounding villagers. A few could be seen working in an orchard at Habdipora village, about 8 km from Hermain.
“There is a sense of fear after yesterday’s killing,” said one of them, a resident of Bijnor in UP. “But we are not planning to leave as of now. We have to feed our families back home, and this is the time when we can earn something,” he said.
The attack came days after suspected militants shot dead a Kashmiri Pandit, Puran Krishan Bhat, outside his house in Chowdhary Gund village of Shopian, 10 km from Hermain, on Saturday.
Since October last year, militants have targeted migrant workers and Kashmiri Pandits in a series of attacks. According to official records, 10 migrants and four Kashmiri Pandits have been killed in militant attacks over the last one year. In addition, a Kashmiri Rajput Hindu and a Kashmiri Sikh woman principal of a school have also been killed.
Meanwhile, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha cancelled his visit to Shopian, where he was scheduled to head a review meeting.
Condemning the attack, former Chief Minister and National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah tweeted: “Another unacceptable and indefensible targeted attack against minorities in Kashmir. My heartfelt condolences to the families…”
PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti also tweeted: “There is no sense of security and dignity for anyone living in J&K. These issues will be resolved only when GoI acknowledges that they exist.”
In Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh, mourning relatives of the two migrant workers who were killed in a grenade attack in Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday. (PTI) 
Militants threw grenade in tin shed where workers slept. (PTI)
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