Terrorist shooting of two migrant workers stalls brick-kiln activity in Kashmir
Two migrant labourers were killed by gunmen at a brick kiln in Kilam, prompting fear and a halt to work at nearby kilns in south Kashmir.
On Friday evening, gunmen opened fire at a brick kiln in Kilam, killing two migrant workers from Chhattisgarh, Deepak Ratrey, 24, and Bhupendra Bhaina, 28. The incident sent shockwaves through nearby brick-kilns in south Kashmir, where labourers like Sunil Kumar and Renku Yadav remained indoors out of fear. Kumar, who has worked in the region since 2007, described a previously peaceful routine that has now been disrupted.
Brick-kiln owners warned that a repeat of past attacks could trigger a mass departure of seasonal workers, threatening their businesses. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha chaired a security review and ordered protection for migrant labourers, while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced financial assistance for the victims' families. Political figures debated the timing of the attacks, with Farooq Abdullah linking them to the statehood debate and other parties criticizing the politicisation of the tragedy.
Why it matters
The killings threaten the seasonal labour force that underpins Kashmir's brick-making industry and raise security concerns for migrant workers.
In this story