In just less than two weeks after a policeman was killed in Anantnag, another terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir has claimed the lives of two migrant labourers from Chhattisgarh, putting the spotlight back on the Valley’s security situation. The back-to-back incidents come more than a year after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack of April 2025 and despite heightened security arrangements across the region.
Head constable killed while on Amarnath Yatra duty
The first of the two recent attacks took place on July 22 in Anantnag’s Lal Chowk, where terrorists opened fire on Head Constable Aashiq Hussain Qureshi at around 12.30 pm.
Qureshi, a resident of Beerwah in Budgam district, was serving with the IR 3rd Battalion and was deployed for Amarnath Yatra security when he was attacked. His killing marked the first terror strike in the Kashmir Valley since the April 2025 Pahalgam attack that left 26 civilians dead.
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The incident drew strong condemnation from Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Kumar Sinha.
“This heinous act will not go unpunished. J&K Police and our security forces are on the ground and will bring those responsible to justice,” the Lieutenant Governor had said.
Second attack claims lives of two migrant labourers
Days after the Anantnag shooting, terrorists targeted a brick kiln in Kilam village of Kulgam district, around 16 kilometres from the district headquarters. Two migrant labourers from Chhattisgarh were shot during the attack.
While one worker died at the scene, the other, who was critically injured, was shifted to Government Medical College, Anantnag. He later succumbed to his injuries during treatment, taking the death toll in the attack to two.
The attack is the second terror incident reported from south Kashmir within two weeks despite a high security alert in the region.
Fresh focus on security in the valley
The two attacks have renewed attention on the security environment in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly after the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025.
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In that attack, terrorists linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba opened fire on tourists in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam. The assault left 26 people dead, making it one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in recent years.
The recent killings in Anantnag and Kulgam have once again highlighted the security challenges in the Valley, with three people, including a police personnel and two non-local labourers, losing their lives in separate terror attacks within a span of 10 days.
FAQs:
What happened in the recent Jammu and Kashmir terror attacks?
Two separate terror attacks in Anantnag and Kulgam within 10 days killed Head Constable Aashiq Hussain Qureshi and two migrant labourers from Chhattisgarh.
When was the last major terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir before these incidents?
Before the recent attacks, the last major terror strike was the April 2025 Pahalgam attack, in which 26 civilians were killed in Baisaran Valley.