Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Seven killed in India’s Kashmir construction site attack

Gunmen opened fire on a work camp, where labourers from outside the region were building a tunnel linking Kashmir with Ladakh.

India has frequently accused Pakistan of supporting the insurgency in Kashmir, though Pakistan denies these claims. (Representational image: Reuters)
India has frequently accused Pakistan of supporting the insurgency in Kashmir, though Pakistan denies these claims. (Representational image: Reuters)

THE DEATH toll from an attack on a construction site in Indian-administered Kashmir has risen to seven, with several others wounded, according to Indian media reports on Monday.

The incident, which took place on Sunday, is among the deadliest targeting civilians this year. Gunmen opened fire on a work camp, where labourers from outside the region were building a tunnel linking Kashmir with Ladakh.


Jammu and Kashmir's chief minister, Omar Abdullah, condemned the attack, describing it as "dastardly and cowardly." He added that the victims included "non-local labourers." India's home minister, Amit Shah, vowed that those responsible would face the "harshest" response.

Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region, has been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan since their independence in 1947. It has also experienced a long-standing insurgency.

Among those killed was a doctor, the PTI reported. Several others were wounded during the attack.

'Heinous act'

Omar Abdullah, who was recently sworn in as the region's chief minister after the first local elections in ten years, strongly condemned the violence. Shortly after the attack, Abdullah confirmed that two people had initially been killed, while several others, both local and non-local workers, were injured.

Amit Shah described the killings as a "despicable act of cowardice" and emphasised that those involved "will not be spared" and will face severe consequences from the security forces.

The attack occurred in Gagangir, in the Sonamarg region, where workers were engaged in a vital infrastructure project, according to India's minister of roads, Nitin Gadkari. The assailants fired automatic weapons from forested hills near the work site.

India has frequently accused Pakistan of supporting the insurgency in Kashmir, though Pakistan denies these claims.

In 2019, the Indian government revoked Kashmir’s limited autonomy, citing the need to curb the insurgency. This was followed by mass arrests and a communications blackout. While the government claims the decision helped stabilise the region, critics argue that it has restricted political freedoms.

In June, nine Indian Hindu pilgrims were killed, and several others injured when a gunman opened fire on a bus in Reasi district.

(With inputs from AFP)

More For You

Former police officer arrested in Rotherham investigation

Investigators believe the earlier offences happened between 1995 and 2002 (Photo for representation: iStock)

Former police officer arrested in Rotherham investigation

A FORMER police officer has been arrested in connection with the ongoing investigation into child sexual abuse in Rotherham, authorities revealed on Tuesday (1).

The former constable, who is in his 50s, was taken into custody on Monday (31). He is suspected of raping a teenage girl in the South Yorkshire town in 2004, according to officials.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi Xi

Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping during their meeting in October 2024.

75 years of India-China relations: Modi, Xi call for stronger ties

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi and Chinese president Xi Jinping exchanged messages on Tuesday to mark the 75th anniversary of India-China diplomatic relations.

Modi stated that the development of bilateral ties contributes to global stability and a multipolar world, while Xi called for a "dragon-elephant tango" to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sri Lanka forms committee to address UK sanctions
Anura Kumara Dissanayake

Sri Lanka forms committee to address UK sanctions

THE Sri Lanka government on Wednesday (2) formed a committee to recommend measures regarding the UK's decision to impose sanctions on three former military commanders who led the campaign that crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009.

Health minister Nalinda Jayatissa told reporters that foreign minister Vijitha Herath, justice minister Harshana Nanayakkara and deputy minister of defence Aruna Jayasekara would comprise the committee that would consult experts for the purpose.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gujarat-blast-ANI

The blast caused the factory’s concrete roof to collapse, scattering debris and body parts across the area, officials confirmed. (Photo: ANI)

ANI

Death toll rises to 21 in Gujarat firework factory explosion

AN EXPLOSION at an illegal firecracker factory in Gujarat's Deesa town killed 21 people and injured several others on Tuesday, officials said.

The blast caused the factory’s concrete roof to collapse, scattering debris and body parts across the area, officials confirmed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Child benefit payments set to rise for UK families

Child benefit, normally paid every four weeks directly into bank accounts, has undergone significant changes in recent months (Photo: Getty Images)

Child benefit payments set to rise for UK families

MILLIONS of British families are set to receive a financial boost as child benefit payments increase from April 7, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

From next week, parents will receive £26.05 per week for the eldest or only child, amounting to £1,354.60 annually - up from the current rate of £25.60. For each additional child, payments will rise to £17.25 weekly, totalling £897 per year - an increase from the present £16.95 rate. This represents a 1.7 per cent increase across all payment categories.

Keep ReadingShow less