Kashmir terror attack ‘aimed for maximum casualties’, NIA at the scene
This is the first major attack on an infrastructural project in Jammu and Kashmir. In the past, militants have not targeted big infrastructure projects.
Security personnel cordon off the area after a terrorist attack, in Ganderbal district, Jammu & Kashmir, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (PTI Photo)
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The militants who opened fire at a camp housing workers of an infrastructure company near Sonamarg on the Srinagar-Leh national highway in J&K were heavily armed and aimed to cause maximum casualties, police sources said.
The victims were identified as Faheem Nasir from Bihar, Anil Shukhla from Madhya Pradesh, Dr Shahnawaz from Bidgam in Kashmir, Mohammad Hanif from Bihar, Kaleem from Bihar, Sashi Abrol from Jammu, and Gurmeet Singh from Punjab.
There were at least two militants who turned up and opened fire indiscriminately at several parts of the camp the employees were staying in, including the mess, sources said.
“It seems they (militants) were heavily armed and were at the camp office for quite a good amount of time,” a police officer said. “From what we hear from the workers, it seems the attack was aimed at causing maximum casualties.”
Police sources said a team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrived at the scene for forensic analysis. They said the NIA is most likely to take over the probe of the attack.
This is the first major attack on an infrastructural project in Jammu and Kashmir. In the past, militants have not targeted big infrastructure projects.
Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. ... Read More