Migrant worker killed in south Kashmir shooting in Kulgam district
At least one migrant worker was killed and another was injured on Friday after suspected terrorists opened fire on two non-local labourers in Kilam village in south Kashmir's Kulgam district. Police said the shooting is being treated as a developing terror attack. The identities of the victims have not yet been released.
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According to police officials, the attack took place in Kilam village, in an area of south Kashmir that has seen repeated security incidents in recent years. The injured worker was taken for treatment, but no further details were immediately available on his condition. Authorities have not yet said how many attackers were involved or whether they escaped.
The incident is significant because it targeted migrant labourers, a group that plays an important role in Kashmir's seasonal economy. The shooting comes during the apple-picking season, when hundreds of workers from across north India travel to the valley for temporary work. That seasonal movement has made migrant labourers a visible part of the local workforce and, at times, vulnerable to violence.
The attack also comes weeks after Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, a resident of Budgam attached to the Special Operations Group, was shot dead in Anantnag while on duty for the Amarnath Yatra. Police described that earlier killing as the first terror attack in the valley since last year's Pahalgam attack. Together, the incidents underline continuing security concerns in south Kashmir and the pressure on local policing and counter-insurgency efforts.
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Kulgam district has remained one of the sensitive parts of the Kashmir Valley, where security forces have repeatedly faced attacks and search operations. The latest shooting adds to concerns about the safety of civilians and temporary workers in the region, especially during periods of heavy seasonal labour demand. It also raises questions about whether armed groups are seeking to target non-local workers as part of a wider pattern of intimidation.
Police have not yet confirmed the motive, the number of assailants, or whether any arrests have been made. Further details, including the victims' identities and the extent of the injured worker's condition, are still awaited. The investigation is ongoing, and officials are expected to provide more information as the situation develops.
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