2024 Ganderbal attack

2024 Ganderbal Attack
Part of Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir
Date 20 October 2024 Location Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir, India Result Security operations ongoing
Belligerents
The Resistance Front	India Jammu and Kashmir Police
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Not disclosed
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	7 killed

The 2024 Ganderbal Attack occurred on October 20, 2024, when militants targeted workers at a construction site in Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir, The Resistance Front (TRF) claimed responsibility for the attack.

Background

The attack took place at a construction site for the Z-Morh Tunnel, a significant infrastructure project aimed at improving all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh. The workers involved, both local and non-local, were employed by APCO Infratech, a construction company from Uttar Pradesh.

Attack and Response

Militants opened fire on the workers at the construction site, killing Dr. Shahnawaz Ahmad Dar and six migrant laborers. The militants fled the scene immediately after the attack, prompting a large-scale search operation by security forces, including the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Security forces, including sniffer dogs and drones, were deployed to track down the militants, and operations are ongoing to apprehend those responsible. There were no reports of any civilian casualties in the attack.

Political and Social Reactions

The attack drew widespread condemnation from political leaders across the spectrum. Mehbooba Mufti, president of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party, called on the Jammu and Kashmir administration, led by Manoj Sinha and Omar Abdullah, to ensure that non-local workers do not flee the Valley out of fear. She stressed that encouraging them to leave would send a negative message and exacerbate the region's challenges.

Other Militant Claims

In addition to TRF's claim, another militant group, the People's Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF)*, praised the attack. PAFF referred to the Z-Morh tunnel as a "military project" and claimed the attack was part of efforts to disrupt Indian military deployments towards the eastern border. PAFF called for local workers to avoid involvement in such projects, labeling them as "death traps."