Asked his religion, then shot him, Kulgam victim's brother alleges
The family of a Chhattisgarh labourer killed in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam has alleged that the terrorists asked him about his
The family of a Chhattisgarh labourer killed in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam has alleged that the terrorists asked him about his religion before opening fire. Deepak Ratre (24), a resident of Chhattisgarh's Sakti district, was one of the two migrant workers killed when terrorists attacked a brick kiln in the Kelam area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district on Friday evening. The second victim was Bhupendra Bhaina (28), also from Chhattisgarh. Both men succumbed to their injuries after the attack. Read Full Story Deepak's family alleged that the attackers asked him about his religion before shooting him. The claim has not been officially confirmed by security agencies, which are investigating the attack. "He was asked where he was from and what his religion was.
He was shot after he said Hindu," Manoj, Deepak's brother, said. Deepak had travelled to Jammu and Kashmir around seven to eight months ago with his wife to work at a brick kiln in search of better wages. He was the sole breadwinner of his family, which includes his elderly mother, a disabled younger brother, his wife and an infant son. His father had died earlier. Family members said Deepak had left home hoping to secure a better future for his loved ones but instead became the latest victim of terrorism. His relatives have demanded financial assistance and adequate compensation from the government, saying the family has been left without any source of income. Bhupendra had gone to Kashmir around three months ago with his wife for work, leaving behind their four-year-old son in the care of his grandmother and younger sister.
His parents and brother worked as labourers in Himachal Pradesh. Following the incident, administrative officials, including Malkharouda SDM Rupendra Patel, visited the bereaved family and assured them of all possible assistance. The district administration is also coordinating with authorities in Jammu and Kashmir to bring Deepak's mortal remains back to his native village. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai condemned the attack and announced an ex gratia of Rs 20 lakh each for the families of the two workers killed. Calling the attack "cowardly" and "an assault on humanity and national unity", Sai said a senior state government officer would be deputed to Jammu and Kashmir to coordinate with local authorities and ensure the victims' last rites are conducted with dignity and according to religious customs.
The family's allegation has also revived memories of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which survivors had claimed that terrorists asked tourists about their religion before opening fire. Security agencies have not linked the two attacks, and the motive behind the Kulgam attack is still under investigation. The Kulgam attack comes less than 10 days after terrorists shot dead a police officer in Anantnag. It is also the latest in a series of attacks targeting non-local workers in Jammu and Kashmir. In February 2024, two workers from Punjab were killed in a similar terror attack in Srinagar. Ends (Inputs by Durgesh Kumar Yadav)
The BriefWire