Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said security forces will avenge the construction workers’ death in the brutal attack in Ganderbal, and “extract a price” that the terrorists will remember for time to come.
He also directed officials to provide financial assistance to the victims’ families.
Seven people including a local doctor and six non-local labourers were killed while five others sustained injuries in the terror attack Wednesday at an under-construction tunnel at Gund in Ganderbal district.
The assailants believed to be “Pakistani terrorists”, meticulously studied the site layout before executing their plan. They first targeted the labourers’ mess before proceeding to the officers’ quarters.
Officials suspect that the attackers may have had prior knowledge of the site, potentially having worked there previously or receiving support from locals present at the location. Eyewitnesses recounted the cold-blooded firing by the attackers.
The officials said CCTV footage from the area is being scrutinised.
The Resistance Front, a shadow organisation linked to the banned Lashker-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
In a region that has been plagued by terrorism for over three decades, this area had not experienced such a violent incident before.
The attack, which left a doctor and six labourers dead, unfolded when the staff had returned to their camp late in the evening after working on the tunnel project.
The terrorists, two in number, indiscriminately opened fire on the group.
Among the deceased were Dr Shahnawaz Dar, Faheem Nasir, Kaleem, Mohammad Hanif, Shashi Abrol, Anil Shukla and Gurmeet Singh.
“The brutal and savage attack against construction workers will be avenged. I’ve asked the J&K Police, and security forces to exact a price that will be remembered by the terrorists and their associates for time to come,” the LG posted on X.
Addressing a function here earlier in the day, the LG said, “We won’t forget yesterday’s dastardly attack.”
The LG said there was still a threat from the “neighbouring country”. “It is still trying to kill innocent people in this region and to destabilise peace here,” he added at the Police Martyrs’ Day function.
Sinha said there was a need to stop drug smuggling and improve counterinsurgency operations.
“We need to stop drug smuggling here. We need to be aware of possible threats. We need to improve counterinsurgency operations,” he said.
The LG said while innocent people should be protected, the guilty should also not be spared.
The LG paid tributes to those killed in the line of duty and said their sacrifices will be remembered forever.
“Our forces have put up a brave fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and to honour them, the ‘Balidan Stambh’ was built. Their sacrifices are supreme,” he said.
He said people should respect the sacrifices made by the forces as no nation can develop if it is not secure. “Whenever any incident happens, police have to bear the brunt. So I request people to respect the sacrifices of our forces and encourage them,” he said.
“We should salute them because forces are neither Hindus nor Muslims or Sikhs. For the peace in the region, I request the people of Jammu and Kashmir to equally participate in this growth process,” he added.
The LG also directed Home Department Principal Secretary Chandraker Bharti to immediately provide financial assistance to the families of civilian victims of the terror attack, an official spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said that APCO Infratech, for which the deceased were working, briefed the LG on the assistance being provided to the family members of the victims.
Sinha also asked the company to release the compensation without any delay.
Under the security-related expenditure, Rs 6 lakh is to be given to the next of kin of each deceased civilian and Rs 15 lakh as an immediate measure to be provided by APCO Infratech. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh will be provided to all the injured.
APCO Infratech will also provide financial assistance to the families of civilians on roll under Corporate Personal Accident Policy and five years of their gross CTC as compensation from insurance.
Sinha said, “Though it is an irreparable loss and cannot be compensated monetarily, we are taking concrete measures for the families of the martyr civilians so that they live a life of dignity.”
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha blamed Pakistan for recent attacks saying that they are frustrated by the successful and peaceful elections in Jammu and Kashmir, and people expressing their faith in democracy.
LG Sinha said that security forces and the police have been given instructions and full freedom to track down and eliminate the perpetrators.
“The Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were conducted successfully and peacefully. The people expressed their faith in democracy and gave a befitting reply to these forces. Naturally, our neighbouring country (Pakistan) is very disturbed and frustrated by this, and is engaging in such cowardly acts through its elements here,” Sinha told PTI in an interview at Raj Bhawan.
He reiterated that security forces have been given full freedom to act and eliminate these elements. “I want to assure the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and the country, that we will soon track down these elements and punish them severely,” he said.
Calling the incident “unfortunate,” Sinha noted that the work on the Z Morh tunnel was nearly complete. “A doctor, some employees, and labourers working there tragically lost their lives. Just as the work was nearing completion, this condemnable incident took place. The DGP, Additional DGP Law and Order, and IG reached the spot to assess the situation. I visited SKIMS hospital in the morning to check on the injured. By God’s grace, everyone is stable,” he added.
Regarding assistance for the victims, the Lieutenant Governor emphasised that the value of life cannot be measured in money.
“Action has already been initiated for those who lost their lives. I have also spoken with the company constructing the Z Morh tunnel. The company will provide Rs 15 lakh to each victim’s family, and regular employees will receive insurance compensation as well,” he said.
LG Sinha also stated that arrangements are being made to provide jobs to the families of the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir who were victims of the attack.
Asked whether Pakistan and terrorists are attempting to escalate terrorism following the government formation, he said, “I don’t think there is any connection between government formation and this. This incident is extremely unfortunate.”
Sinha further stated that the world is aware that the neighbouring country is engaging in such acts out of frustration, but emphasised that the security forces will respond appropriately and take necessary action.
When questioned about the resurgence of targeted and selective killings and the government’s policy to address it, he said, “Initially, Jammu and Kashmir was a matter of concern, especially in 2020. Security forces conducted a 360-degree operation and neutralized the commanders of various organizations. Local recruitment is at its lowest in the last 25 years.”
He also mentioned that the TRF (The Resistance Front) has claimed responsibility for this incident, as they have done before. “Essentially, two organizations operate under different names and commit these acts. But our security forces and intelligence agencies are fully aware of them,” he said. (With additional inputs from PTI)
LG visits kin of Ganderbal terror attack victim in Jammu
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday visited the house of one of the victims of the Ganderbal terror attack that left seven people dead.
The lieutenant governor flew from Srinagar to meet the family of Shashi Abrol in the Talab Tillo area of Jammu city. He assured Ruchi Abrol, the widow of Shahi Abrol, of the government’s full support.
