Srinagar, Aug 01: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday condemned the terrorist attack in Kulgam district, asserting that no amount of compensation could undo the damage suffered by families of those who had come to the Valley to earn an honest livelihood.
Deepak Ratray and Bopinder, both in their 20s and hailing from Chhattisgarh, were killed when terrorists attacked a brick kiln in the Kelam area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district late on Friday evening (July 31, 2026), officials said.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to Banglore CM Omar said, “They had come to Kashmir to work. People from outside the state had come here to earn an honest livelihood. Those innocent people were targeted in such a manner. The attack cannot be condemned enough.” He added that no amount of money could undo the impact of the attack or ease the pain and suffering of their families.
“However, this is a small effort from our side to extend some assistance to them during this difficult time,” he added.
The Chief Minister announced an ex gratia relief of ₹10 lakh each for the families of the two migrant labourers. The amount is in addition to the immediate assistance of ₹6 lakh each announced by the district administration.
Responding to a question regarding the protest led by him at Jantar Mantar seeking the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, CM Omar said the movement would continue until the demand was fulfilled.
He said the demonstration at Jantar Mantar was only the beginning and acknowledged that statehood would not be restored through a one-day protest.
“We know that we are not going to get statehood just by coming to Jantar Mantar for one day. Thousands of students came, and they had to protest for 25 days… (to get their demands met). We too will have to continue this process,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the protests would continue in different forms, with some programmes being held in Jammu and Kashmir and others in Delhi.
He said the demand for restoration of statehood was based on commitments made by the government. “We are not saying anything for which a promise was not made to us. It was repeatedly said in the Supreme Court and inside the House that Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood would be restored. We are only reminding the Central Government to fulfil its promise,” Omar said.
On the government’s assurance that no action would be taken against students involved in the recent protests over the NEET question paper leak, Abdullah said a commitment made by the government should be honoured. “If a promise has been made, then it should be kept. Similarly, the people of Jammu and Kashmir were promised that they would get statehood,” he added.
Meanwhile, National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah called for a fair and transparent investigation into the killing of two non-local labourers in Kulgam, questioning why such attacks occur whenever the demand for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood is raised.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the bereaved families, Dr Farooq described the incident as “unfortunate” and said the truth behind the killings must be established through an impartial investigation.
“We do not know who carried out these killings. There should be an honest investigation to identify those responsible. It is unfortunate that such attacks take place whenever the demand for Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood is raised,” he said.
Dr Abdullah said the investigation should be conducted without bias to ensure those responsible are brought to justice. He stressed that uncovering the facts was essential for the victims’ families and for maintaining public confidence.
Expressing condolences to the families of the victims, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary said the people of Jammu and Kashmir were “tired of condemning” terror attacks and wanted an end to militancy.
He said the Centre had revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, reorganised the erstwhile state and promised that terrorism would be eliminated.
“Six years later, if innocent people are still being killed, the Centre must explain whether its experiment has failed,” Choudhary told reporters.
The Deputy Chief Minister referred to the killing of a police constable in Anantnag on July 22 and the killing of two migrant labourers in Kulgam on July 31, claiming the incidents followed the National Conference’s July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi seeking restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to constitute a high-level committee to conduct a free and impartial probe into the recent terror attacks and identify those responsible for disrupting peace.
Jammu and Kashmir Jal Shakti Minister Javed Ahmed Rana also condemned the Kulgam killings, describing the attack as unfortunate and expressing solidarity with the families of the two migrant labourers who had come to Kashmir to earn their livelihood.
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