Widespread protests, candlelight marches across J&K to condemn deadly terror attack in Ganderbal

Protests were held across the Jammu region on Oct 21 against the killing of non-local workers, and a doctor in a brazen terrorist attack in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir late last evening.

Meanwhile, candlelight protest marches were held in parts of Kashmir including the Ganderbal and Kupwara districts to denounce the killing of civilians and express solidarity with the families of the victims.

The terror attack that took place near the under-construction Z-Morh tunnel on the Srinagar-Leh national highway, left six workers and a doctor dead. At least five workers were injured in the attack.

Pertinently, the attack — the second in three days — evoked widespread condemnation from top political leaders across the country with Union Home Minister Amit Shah vowing the harshest response to the attackers behind unarmed civilians.

Shiv Sena activists led by state president Manish Sahni held a protest in Indira Chowk Jammu. The protestors burnt the effigy of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistani flag demanding extensive military action on the alleged militant hideouts and launching pads across the border — Pakistan.

Sahni regretted that there was no end to the series of target killings in Jammu and Kashmir. “There must be a strong military action and surgical strikes on the hideouts and launching pads of terrorists in Pakistan,” he said, adding, “Pakistan is running a factory of terrorism.”

Seperately, Shiv Sena Dogra front workers took out a protest march in the Rani Park area of Jammu. The protestors led by state president Ashok Gupta raised anti-Pakistan slogans and and burnt the effigy of the Pakistani prime minister.

Gupta said that the terrorist attack on workers at a construction site in Kashmir was a “matter of concern” as it depicts that terrorists don't want development and peace in Kashmir. He appealed to the government to start an “operation all out” against terrorists.

Bajrang Dal activists led by state president Rakesh Bajrangi also raised anti-Pakistan slogans and burnt the Pakistani flag to condemn the attack. They demanded military action against Pakistan to put an end to such brutal attacks.

Protests condemning the terror attack were also held in Kathua district and some other areas of the Jammu region.

Meanwhile, late evening candlelight protests were held in various parts of Kashmir with protestors demanding action against the perpetrators of the crime.

“This is an attack on humanity. The terror attack snatched the lives of innocent civilians who were engaged in work at the construction site to feed their families. Who will now look after their children,” Irshad Ahmad, a trader, who took part in a protest in Kupwara, told Education Post.

“We have held this candlelight protest to strongly condemn the terror attack and express solidarity with victim families. We urge the government to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice at the earliest,” he added.

Meanwhile, amid sobs, Dr. Shahnawaz Ahmed Dar, who was killed in the terror attack was laid to rest at his native Naidgam village in Budgam district.

Shahnawaz had solemnized the marriage of his daughter days before and was supposed to return home to see her.

After his father’s funeral attended by thousands of people, Mohsin Shahnawaz said, “My father had promised to help me become an IAS officer. All my dreams are shattered now.”

Pertinently, the Ganderbal attack came a day after terrorists killed a migrant worker from Bihar in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Oct 18. The locals found Ashok Chauhan’s bullet-riddled body in the Waduna area of the district.

So far this year, seven incidents of targeted killings have taken place, in which about two dozen innocent people – some of them non-locals – have been killed, according to media reports.

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team reached Kashmir on Oct 21 to investigate the terror attack.