At first, it sounded like firecrackers from a wedding. Within minutes, though, it became clear that an unprecedented terror attack was unfolding at the campsite of a major construction project in Kashmir’s Gagangir.
The campsite, where the employees were staying, is just below an approach road to the tunnel, and is surrounded by barren mountains on one side and the Srinagar-Leh national highway on the other. Across the highway is a village situated on the foothills of a mountain with dense forests.
The victims were employees of infrastructure company APCO Infratech, which is constructing the Z-Morh tunnel on the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway. Not only is this the first militant attack on a key infrastructure project in J&K, it also comes in an area that has been relatively terror-free. The tunnel is crucial because it would give all-weather connectivity to Sonamarg and, eventually, Ladakh.
The unmetalled road that leads to the campsite where the deceased were staying. (Express photo by Bashaarat Masood)
The men were identified as Faheem Nasir, Mohd Hanif and Kaleen from Bihar; Anil Shukhla from Madhya Pradesh; Dr Shahnawaz from Budgam in Kashmir; Sashi Abrol from Jammu; and Gurmeet Singh from Punjab.
Speaking to The Indian Express, a man who runs a provisional store right across the camp said, “It had grown dark and we heard incessant gunshots. We thought these were firecrackers. There was a wedding ceremony going on just 100 meters away, and they (workers at the Z-Morh tunnel) also detonate explosives sometimes.”
“But suddenly, we saw (private) security personnel rushing out of the camp, towards the road. They were frightened and told us there had been an attack on the campsite. We shut our shops immediately and rushed back home,” he said.
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The construction firm had employed their own private security, sources said, adding that the nearest CRPF camp is around 300 metres away.
According to sources, the survivors informed them that two militants had opened indiscriminate fire at the camp around the time the employees were having dinner.
The approach road to the Z Morh tunnel. (Express photo by Bashaarat Masood)
“There were two men wearing a chadar (a woolen shawl). They arrived at the camp, removed the shawl and opened fire,” a police official said, quoting the survivors. “They targeted the campsite at three places, including the mess.”
On power supply to the camp being cut at the time, the official said,”There are conflicting reports about it. While one group of workers said militants snapped the electricity, the other group said some of the workers themselves switched off the electricity to prevent militants from finding targets.”
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According to officials, the 6.4 kilometer tunnel is almost complete and the inauguration was delayed because of the Model Code of Conduct being imposed during the recent assembly polls.
The approach road to the Z Morch tunnel closed for any movement. (Express photo by Bashaarat Masood)
A villager from Gagangir who drives a dumper truck for the construction company said a majority of employees working at the tunnel had already left some time ago.
A private security guard working for the construction company recalled hearing gunshots in the evening. “I was posted at the periphery. When I heard the gunshots, I called my colleagues. They informed me the camp was under attack and three sites had been targeted,” he said.
On Monday, senior security officials, including the Additional Director General of Central Reserve Police Force, visited the campsite.
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A team of the National Investigation Agency also arrived at Gagangir to begin a probe and to conduct forensic analysis. A senior official said the central agency is likely to take over the probe.
The security forces and the police are yet to make a public statement on the attack.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lt Governor Manoj Sinha meanwhile visited the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar to enquire about the well being of the injured workers.
Sinha announced a compensation of Rs 6 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh to those injured. He also asked the firm to provide immediate compensation of Rs 15 lakh to the families of those killed.
5 min read
The unmetalled road that leads to the campsite where the deceased were staying. (Express photo by Bashaarat Masood)
The approach road to the Z Morh tunnel. (Express photo by Bashaarat Masood)
The approach road to the Z Morch tunnel closed for any movement. (Express photo by Bashaarat Masood)
