Six construction workers and a doctor were killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district last night. The terrorists opened fire on a camp housing workers of a private company, who were working on an under-construction tunnel in the Gund area.

The area has been cordoned off by the army and police and a hunt is on to find the terrorists.

Both locals and non-locals were present at the camp sire and at least two terrorists opened gunfire at the site.

Newly-elected Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah called it a “dastardly and cowardly attack on non-local labourers”. Mr Abdullah said, “These people were working on a key infrastructure project in the area. 2 have been killed and 2-3 more have been injured in this militant attack. I strongly condemn this attack on unarmed innocent people and send my condolences to their loved ones.”

Very sad news of a dastardly & cowardly attack on non-local labourers at Gagangir in Sonamarg region. These people were working on a key infrastructure project in the area. 2 have been killed & 2-3 more have been injured in this militant attack. I strongly condemn this attack on…

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 20, 2024

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha, said “Full freedom has been given to the police, army, and security forces” and he “assured the people that those behind this despicable act will not go unpunished.”

I strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack on civilians in Gagangeer. I assure the people that those behind this despicable act will not go unpunished. We have given full freedom to J&K Police, Army and Security forces.

— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) October 20, 2024

Union minister Nitin Gadkari has condemned the “horrific” terror attack. In a post on X, the minister said the “innocent labourers” were engaged in a vital infrastructure project. 

“I strongly condemn the horrific terror attack on innocent labourers in Gagangir, Sonamarg, Jammu & Kashmir, who were engaged in a vital infrastructure project,” Mr Gadkari’s post read.

“Acts like killing innocent civilians and spreading violence and terror among the general public are crimes against humanity. The whole country is united against this,” Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said.

On Friday last week, the body of a labourer from Bihar was found in the Union Territory’s Shopian district with bullet injuries.

“He got a phone call while we were harvesting corn. He told us that he was going somewhere. When he did not return for some time, we went to look for him. We called his number which kept ringing, but there was no answer. Then we found his body,” a man who worked with him said.

The targeted killing from yesterday is one of the deadliest in recent times. The attack took place a few days after a government was sworn-in in the Union Territory. Omar Abdullah’s National Conference, which allied with Congress, won a majority and formed a government. Elections were held for the first time since 2014 and were significant after the removal of Article 370. 

NDTV proudly presents its flagship event, NDTV World Summit 2024 – The India Century, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak in the inaugural session, followed by former UK PM David Cameron and other global leaders.

Bhutan Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Bharti Airtel Chairperson Sunil Bharti Mittal, Actors Shraddha Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan will also be among the guests who will speak during the two-day event.

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Here are the live updates on NDTV World Summit 2024:

Former Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in an Israeli operation in southern Gaza last week, was seen moving inside a tunnel with his wife and children, hours before the deadly October 7 attack on Israel last year. The now-dead Hamas leader was carrying pillows, mattresses, television, and bags inside the tunnel located under their family in Khan Younis, a CCTV footage showed. 

Meanwhile, his wife was seen carrying a Hermes bag, which Israel claims is worth $32,000.

Israel said, “Yahya Sinwar‘s wife was caught sneaking to the tunnels the night before the October 7 attack,” claiming she was carrying a Hermes Birkin bag worth $32,000 (Rs 26.88 lakh). 

Sinwar’s wife caught in this photo sneaking to the tunnels the night before October 7th – get this – clutching a $32,000 Hermes Birkin bag!

While Gazans endured hardship under Hamas, Sinwar and his family were shamelessly living in luxury, indulging while sending others to die. pic.twitter.com/Q9fTqhqxo8

— Israel ישראל (@Israel) October 20, 2024

“While Gazans endured hardship under Hamas, Sinwar and his family were shamelessly living in luxury, indulging while sending others to die,” Israel said.

Israel shared a screengrab from the video, where Sinwar’s wife holds a bag. In the hazy picture, the design on the bag ‘appears to be similar’ to the Hermes Birkin 40 Black Togo Gold Hardware edition. The Palestinian militant group is yet to contest Israel’s claim.

The footage was released following Sinwar’s death in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, in an armour-infantry assault. Israel’s 828th Brigade conducted “intelligence-based targeted raids and operations,” the Israel Defence Forces said, giving details of the damage assessment, where they found assault rifles and snipers in the hideout and Sinwar’s body.

🎥DECLASSIFIED FOOTAGE:

Sinwar hours before the October 7 massacre: taking down his TV into his tunnel, hiding underneath his civilians, and preparing to watch his terrorists murder, kindap and rape. pic.twitter.com/wTAF9xAPLU

— LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) October 19, 2024

Israeli army spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari showed photos of the underground compound with toilets, showers, and a kitchen. Food, cash, and documents were also found there.

Hamas, meanwhile, said Sinwar died heroically engaging in battle, calling Hagar’s remarks “blatant lies”.

Drone footage from earlier this week showed Sinwar critically wounded in his last moments, throwing an object at the drone. The autopsy found that Sinwar was killed by a gunshot to the head, and also found one of his fingers was cut off.

During a year of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Israel Defence Forces had often closed in on Sinwar, but the latter managed to escape. Israel had identified Sinwar’s final hiding after the military found “his DNA sample on a tissue with which he blew his nose,” said Hagari.

Yahya Sinwar was the mastermind of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel in which over 1,200 people were killed, resulting in a year-long Israeli operation in Gaza, killing over 40,000 including children.