India Seven dead in attack in Indian part of Kashmir
At least seven people have been killed in a gun attack by suspected extremists in the Indian-controlled part of the Himalayan region of Kashmir. The authorities of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir spoke of a "terrorist attack" after the incident on Sunday evening.
21.10.2024, 18:15
SDA
There were also injuries. The fatalities, including a doctor and six construction workers, had been working for a private infrastructure company building a strategically important tunnel in the north of the country, Indian media reported.
A group called The Resistance Front claimed responsibility for the attack via social media messages, reported the news channel India Today and other Indian media. The group is classified as a terrorist organization by the government. It is said to have been founded in 2019 following the government's decision to withdraw partial autonomy from the Indian part of Kashmir and divide it into two union territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Two gunmen fired indiscriminately at workers
In the attack, at least two gunmen reportedly fired weapons indiscriminately at the workers in the shelter. Security forces are searching for the suspected extremists. It was the first major attack targeting an infrastructure project in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the newspaper "The Indian Express", the 6.4-kilometer Z-Morh Tunnel, which is currently under construction, is part of a larger tunnel project that is to connect the Kashmir Valley with Ladakh. The project is also important for the Indian military, as it will allow military personnel to be brought to the border region of Ladakh more quickly.
Most of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan. Both nuclear powers have already fought two wars for control of the entire Himalayan valley. A small part of Kashmir also belongs to China.
