Gurmeet Singh Among Seven Killed in Ganderbal Terror Attack, Struck While Speaking to Wife Over Phone
In a tragic turn of events, Gurmeet Singh, a 45-year-old construction worker from Gurdaspur, Punjab, was among the seven victims of a horrific terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. The attack took place at an under-construction tunnel site in Gund, where a group of laborers was working late into the evening on Sunday. As terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on the group, Gurmeet Singh was speaking to his wife on the phone when he was struck by a bullet, his father Dharam Singh said. The attack left six non-local laborers and a Kashmiri doctor dead, with five others wounded.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the families of the victims, leaving them devastated and calling for justice and support from the government.
Gurmeet Singh, a native of the small village of Sakhowal in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district, had been working in Kashmir for the past five years as part of a construction company. He was known to be the sole breadwinner for his family, which included his wife, two daughters, a son, and his elderly parents.
On Sunday evening, moments before his life was tragically cut short, Gurmeet was speaking to his wife on a mobile phone. His father, Dharam Singh, shared the heart-wrenching details of his son’s final conversation. He was speaking to his wife on the phone during the attack. He told her that he had been hit by a bullet,” said Dharam Singh. Soon after, the family was informed that Gurmeet had succumbed to his injuries.
The news plunged his family into unbearable grief, with his wife and children left in shock and disbelief over the senseless loss of a loved one. “He was the sole provider for the family,” a relative said, adding that the family now faces an uncertain future without their primary source of income.
The attack took place at an under-construction tunnel in the Gund area of Ganderbal district in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday night. Unidentified terrorists, believed to be at least two in number, targeted the group of laborers and other staff members working on the tunnel project. According to reports from officials, the terrorists opened indiscriminate fire, killing two laborers instantly. Four others, along with a local doctor who had been working in the area, succumbed to their injuries shortly afterward.
The gunfire created chaos and panic among the workers, who were mostly non-local laborers, some hailing from states like Punjab and Bihar. The attack has raised fresh concerns about the safety and security of non-local workers in Jammu and Kashmir, who have often been soft targets for terror groups operating in the region.
According to officials, the terrorists fled the scene after the attack, and a manhunt is currently underway to apprehend those responsible. Security forces have intensified their search operations in the region, but as of Monday, no group had claimed responsibility for the attack.
The terror attack has left the families of the victims shattered and demanding justice. Gurmeet Singh’s family, especially his wife and children, were left inconsolable after receiving the news of his death. They have urged the state government to provide financial assistance and job opportunities to help them cope with the loss of their sole breadwinner.
He had worked in Kashmir for many years to support his family.. His death has left a void that cannot be filled, said one of Gurmeet’s relatives, pleading with the government for help. We urge the state to provide all available support to the family in these challenging times.
Other families of the victims echoed similar sentiments, with many of them facing similar situations of having lost their primary earners. The need for immediate government intervention and financial aid for these bereaved families has become critical.
The Ganderbal attack has once again highlighted the fragile security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly for non-local workers. In recent years, laborers, migrant workers, and civilians have increasingly been targeted by terrorist groups in the region, often in attacks aimed at instilling fear and disrupting economic activity.
Local authorities and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir have been working tirelessly to combat terrorism in the region, but sporadic attacks continue to pose a threat to peace and stability. The targeting of laborers, many of whom travel from other states to work in construction, agriculture, and infrastructure projects, underscores the vulnerabilities they face in these conflict-prone areas.
Following Sunday’s attack, security has been tightened across the region, and additional troops have been deployed to protect workers at construction sites and other sensitive areas. However, there is growing concern about the long-term safety of non-local laborers, with many questioning whether enough is being done to protect them from such brutal attacks.
In the aftermath of the attack, the state and central governments have condemned the violence and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. The authorities have assured the families of the victims that they will receive full support in this time of tragedy. The Jammu and Kashmir government has already announced compensation for the families of the victims and has promised to ensure the safety of non-local laborers working in the region.
However, families like Gurmeet Singh’s are still awaiting concrete action. Dharam Singh, his father, stated that while the announcement of financial aid is appreciated, the family’s main concern is how they will manage in the long term without Gurmeet’s income. We have lost the individual who provided support for our family. We urge the government to help us not just now, but in the future too,” he said.
The Ganderbal terror attack also brings attention to the wider issue of migrant laborers working in conflict zones. Many workers come to Jammu and Kashmir in search of better livelihoods, unaware of the dangers they may face. The government is being urged to implement stronger measures to ensure their protection.
The tragic death of Gurmeet Singh and six other victims in the Ganderbal terror attack has left a trail of devastation for their families and raised urgent concerns about the safety of non-local workers in Jammu and Kashmir. As security forces continue to hunt down the attackers, the state and central governments must provide immediate support to the bereaved families and ensure long-term security for laborers working in the region.
The grief-stricken family of Gurmeet Singh, who was killed while speaking to his wife, represents just one of many who are now grappling with an uncertain future. As the region deals with the aftermath of this senseless attack, there is a pressing need for enhanced security, justice, and sustainable support for those affected by terrorism.
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