Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed deep condolences over the death of three laborers from Bihar who lost their lives in a terror attack at Gagangir, Jammu and Kashmir. He has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh to the families of each of the deceased.
The Chief Minister also directed officials to provide additional benefits to the victims' families under schemes managed by the Labour Department and Social Welfare Department. Furthermore, he instructed Bihar’s Resident Commissioner in New Delhi to coordinate with the Jammu and Kashmir government to ensure the proper transportation of the deceased’s bodies back to Bihar.
The attack occurred on Sunday evening when terrorists targeted a tunnel construction site on the Srinagar-Leh national highway in Ganderbal district. The attackers, believed to be at least two individuals, opened fire indiscriminately on laborers and staff members returning to their camp in Gund, Ganderbal. Among those killed were a doctor and five laborers.
Two laborers died on the spot, while three others and the doctor succumbed to their injuries later. Five individuals remain under medical care for their injuries.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah condemned the attack, describing it as a "despicable act of cowardice." He vowed that the perpetrators would face strong action from security forces and extended condolences to the families of the victims, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also denounced the attack, referring to it as a "cowardly" act against non-local laborers working on an important infrastructure project. He expressed his sympathies to the families of the deceased and condemned the violence against unarmed civilians.
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