Kulgam Terror Attack: The family of one of the two Chhattisgarh migrant labourers killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam has alleged that the assailants asked the victims about their caste and community before opening fire.
The account echoes a survivor’s account from the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.
Deepak Ratre, a resident of Bundeli village in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district, was identified as one of the two migrant labourers killed when terrorists opened fire at a brick kiln in Kulgam on Friday night. The other victim has been identified as 28-year-old Bhupendra Bhaina from Sarangarh-Bilaigarh district.
‘Shot Him After Asking His Caste And Community’: Family Of Kulgam Victim
Speaking to news agency ANI, Deepak’s uncle, Haldhar Ratrey, alleged that the attackers targeted the labourer after asking about his identity.
“From what we’ve heard, the terrorists shot him after asking about his caste and community. Look at this act by the terrorists – they went and shot him after asking his caste, firing at a labourer,” he said, condemning the incident.
‘Cruel Mindset Of Terrorism’: Kharge
While authorities are yet to confirm whether the victims were targeted based on their identity, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated in a post on X that the two labourers were “identified” before they were killed. Condemning the act, Kharge said that the incident reflected the “cruel mindset of terrorism.”
The attack comes days after terrorists shot dead Jammu and Kashmir Police Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi in Anantnag, where he was deployed on Amarnath Yatra duty. The incident marked the first terror strike in Kashmir since the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam attack, in which 26 people were killed. Survivors of that attack had also alleged that the terrorists asked victims about their religion before opening fire.