NIA Team Reaches Ganderbal; J&K L-G Manoj Sinha Says 'Brutal Attack Will Be Avenged'

A four-member National Investigation Agency team, led by a senior officer, reached the terror attack site in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district where a doctor and six construction workers were killed on Sunday evening.

The NIA Jammu branch headed by a Superintendent of Police (SP) rank officer will assist the Jammu and Kashmir police in the terror attack probe, said sources aware of the matter. The NIA is likely to take over the probe.

Terrorist group ‘The Resistance Front (TRF)’, an offshoot of the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack. Its chief Sheikh Sajjad Gul masterminded the horror.

The terrorists opened fire on a camp housing workers, who were working on an under-construction Z-Morh tunnel which connects Gaganeer to Sonamarg in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal.

“The cadre of the #FalconSquad #TRF carried out a strategic attack in the Gagangeer area of Sonmarg. The attack targeted a construction site where a billion-dollar tunnel project, primarily intended for military transportation, is underway. We emphasize that this is our land under illegal occupation, and we will cut down any neck that stretches out with ill intent toward our land or properties,” militant group TRF said in a statement.

Following the attack last evening, security personnel from the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) along with local police officials have cordoned off the area.

J&K L-G Manoj Sinha Reaches Srinagar Hospital

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited a hospital in Srinagar to inquire about the health of construction workers, who were injured in the Ganderbal terror attack. “I pray for their speedy recovery. Directed the officials to provide all the support to the affected families,” Sinha said.

Meanwhile, J&K L-G Sinha also said that the attack against the construction workers will be avenged and asked the security forces to rout the terrorists and their associates amid the ongoing anti-terror operations in the valley.

“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,” LG Sinha said.

Ex-J&K DGP Slams Pakistan’s ‘Deep State’

Former Jammu and Kashmir DGP Shesh Paul Vaid on Monday slammed Pakistan’s ‘Deep State’ after the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) claimed responsibility for the attack that killed seven civilians in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Sunday evening.

“How could the deep state of Pakistan tolerate some icebreaking vibes coming from the recent visit of @DrSJaishankar to the SCO meeting in Islamabad and handshaking/smiling pictures with Pakistan PM Shahbaz Sharif,” Vaid wrote in an X post.

“Many on our side blame, Modi for not talking to Pakistan. How could people of J&K vote fearlessly and development projects could be pursued relentlessly by Govt? Understand who wants to derail all this,” he added.

Political Parties Unite To Condemn Terror Attack

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the attack, calling it a “dastardly and cowardly” attack on non-local labourers. He also mourned the demise of civilians.

“Very sad news of a dastardly & cowardly attack on non-local labourers at Gagangir in Sonamarg region. These people were working on a key infrastructure project in the area,” Abdullah, who recently took on his new role in the Union Territory, said in an X post.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi also came forward to condemn the attack, saying that killing innocent civilians and spreading terror is a crime against humanity.

“The killing of six (seven killed as per latest reports) civilians including five labourers in a cowardly terrorist attack in Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir is highly condemnable. Acts like killing innocent civilians and spreading violence and terror among the general public are crimes against humanity. The whole country is united against this,” Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on X on Sunday.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said terrorists who orchestrated the killings will ‘not go unpunished’.

Amit Shah Vows Action

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the dastardly terror attack on civilians in the Gagangir area of Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir was a “despicable” act of “cowardice”. He affirmed that those involved in this heinous act will not be spared and will face the harshest response from security forces.

“The dastardly terror attack on civilians in Gagangir, J&K, is a despicable act of cowardice. Those involved in this heinous act will not be spared and will face the harshest response from our security forces. At this moment of immense grief, I extend my sincerest condolences to the families of the deceased. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured,” Shah wrote in an X post.

On Monday, senior police and army officials updated Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on the current anti-terror operations in the valley. Sinha instructed them to ramp up their efforts and crush the terrorists.