In Kashmir for better pay, the 2 migrants who never made it home

2 migrant workers from Chhattisgarh who travelled to Jammu and Kashmir in search of work were killed on Saturday, leaving behind grieving families.

Written by: Saurabh Parashar, Jayprakash S Naidu

5 min readSakti, ShimlaUpdated: Aug 2, 2026 06:07 AM IST

Bhupendra Bhaina was first admitted to Government Medical College, Anantnag, and later referred to SKIMS Srinagar for specialised treatment following surgery. However, he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday morning, taking the death toll in the attack to two. The other victim, Deepak Ratre, 24, was the sole earner for his family

Bhupendra Bhaina (L) was first admitted to Government Medical College, Anantnag, and later referred to SKIMS Srinagar. The other victim, Deepak Ratre, 24, was the sole earner for his family. (Special Arrangement, Enhanced using AI)

Driven by the search for better-paying work outside Chhattisgarh, two young labourers travelled over 1,500 km to a brick kiln in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district. On Friday evening, that journey ended in tragedy when terrorists shot them dead after allegedly verifying their identities.

For the family of Deepak Ratre, 24, the pain is compounded by the fact that he was cremated in Kashmir and his body was not brought home.

According to his uncle, Dilharan Sande, Deepak’s father died by suicide when he was four years old, following which Deepak, his mother and younger brother moved in with his uncles’ families in Hardidh village in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district.

“His younger brother is disabled since birth. We looked after their education, work and marriage. Our biggest pain is that we never got a chance to bid him goodbye,” Sande said.

The two labourers were shot from point-blank range at a brick kiln in Kulgam on Friday evening. According to Ganpat Bhaina, the maternal uncle of the second victim, Bhupinder Bhaina, 25, the attackers first verified the identities of the workers before opening fire.

“Before killing them, the terrorists asked them their names and religion, and checked their Aadhaar cards,” he claimed. “They called them out of their jhuggis while their wives were probably preparing food.”

Ganpat, who also works in Kashmir and spoke to The Indian Express over the phone, said he learnt about the sequence of events from a relative working near the brick kiln where the attack took place. “The son of my close relative works there. I work at another brick kiln around 50 kilometres away,” he said.

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He added that the bodies of both victims were handed over after legal formalities and cremated in Kulgam.

Deepak had travelled to Kashmir for work five times. Before leaving for Kashmir in June, he had also worked in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. He and his wife earned around Rs 1,000 a day in Kashmir depending on available work, compared with around Rs 600 a day in Chhattisgarh, where work was also less certain.

His mother worked alongside the couple while his disabled younger brother looked after their two-year-old child. His uncles were employed at another site around 50-70 km from where Deepak was killed.

Deepak had hoped to build a house of his own and was also repaying a marriage loan of Rs 50,000.

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For Bhupinder Bhaina, this was his first visit to Kashmir. He had been working there for the last four to five months after previously working as a construction labourer in Himachal Pradesh’s industrial town of Baddi. He had travelled to Kulgam with his wife to make bricks, leaving behind their young son with his minor sister in Chhattisgarh.

Bhupinder was critically injured in Friday’s attack. He was initially admitted to Government Medical College, Anantnag, and later referred to SKIMS Srinagar after surgery, where he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday morning.

Originally from Chhuiha village in Chhattisgarh’s Sarangarh-Bilaigarh district, Bhupinder was the eldest of three siblings. He had dropped out of school in Class VIII, while his younger brother, Anurag, left school in Class IX.

“My brother had been working in Jammu and Kashmir for the last four to five months. On Friday night, I received a call from my maternal uncle, Ganpat, informing me that Bhupinder had been shot by terrorists. He has left behind his wife and their young son,” Anurag, who works as a welder in Baddi, told The Indian Express.

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Describing the family’s financial difficulties, Anurag said their parents, Dashrath Bhaina and Nageshwari Bhaina, are living with him in Baddi and are in poor health.

“Our parents are not well, and we are not in a position to travel to Kashmir. The authorities informed us that my brother’s last rites would be performed there,” he said.

“This was only the second time my brother had gone outside Chhattisgarh for work. He had earlier worked in Himachal Pradesh three years ago,” Anurag said.

Asked about the wage difference, he said labourers earn around Rs 150-250 more per day outside Chhattisgarh.

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Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced an ex gratia of Rs 20 lakh each for the families of the two victims, describing the attack as an assault on humanity and the unity of the nation. He said necessary directions had been issued to officials and assured the families that the state government would extend all possible assistance.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

Jayprakash S Naidu

Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India. Expertise and Experience Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of: Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages. Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states. Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering: Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements. Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law. Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in: Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel. Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India. Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More

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