Three people were killed in two attacks in south Kashmir within 10 days. A police head constable was shot dead in Anantnag on July 22, while two migrant workers from Chhattisgarh were killed in Kulgam following an attack on July 31.

The violence occurred during a period of heightened security in the region, including extensive arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra. The two incidents have renewed concerns about the safety of police personnel and migrant workers in the Kashmir Valley.

What Happened in Anantnag?

Attackers opened fire near Lal Chowk on the Anantnag-Kokernag road at around 12.30 pm on July 22. Head Constable Aashiq Hussain Qureshi, who was serving with the IR 3rd Battalion, was critically injured and taken to Government Medical College Hospital in Anantnag, where he was declared dead.

Qureshi was reportedly deployed for Amarnath Yatra security duty when the attack occurred. It was described as the first terror attack in the Kashmir Valley since the Pahalgam killings of April 2025. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack and said security forces would bring those responsible to justice. Police, Army and paramilitary personnel later launched a joint search operation in the area.

Thousands Detained After the Anantnag Attack

The Wire initially reported that more than 2,500 people described as suspected Over Ground Workers had been detained during operations across several districts.

A later Times of India report said the number of people detained for questioning had risen to around 3,500 by July 25. The later report described them more broadly as suspected sympathisers or people being questioned over possible links with armed groups.

The large number of detentions shows the scale of the investigation. However, detention for questioning does not by itself establish that every person detained was involved in supporting terrorism.

Kulgam Attack Targets Migrant Labour

A second J&K terror attack took place at a brick kiln in Kilam village, around 16 kilometres from Kulgam town, on the evening of July 31.

Attackers opened fire on two workers from Chhattisgarh. One worker died after the shooting, while the other succumbed to his injuries during treatment, taking the death toll to two.

The incident was the first reported attack on non-local workers in Jammu and Kashmir in about 21 months. Hindustan Times noted that the previous such case occurred in February 2024, when two workers from Punjab were killed in Srinagar.

The latest killings have again highlighted the vulnerability of migrant labour employed at brick kilns, construction sites and other workplaces across the Valley.

Did the Attacks Expose Security Gaps?

The Anantnag and Kulgam attacks occurred despite heightened security arrangements in south Kashmir. In Anantnag, security had already been strengthened because of the Amarnath Yatra.

That does not by itself identify whether the attacks resulted from an intelligence failure, weak patrol coverage or another operational problem. However, two attacks within such a short period raise questions about how attackers reached their targets and escaped detection.

It is therefore more accurate to say the incidents have placed the regional security system under renewed scrutiny rather than claiming that a specific failure has already been established.

What Happens Next?

Security forces launched search operations following both attacks. Investigators are trying to identify the attackers and determine whether the incidents were connected.

The immediate priorities will include locating those responsible, reviewing security around vulnerable workplaces and increasing protection for police personnel and non-local workers.

For now, the two incidents represent a sharp return of targeted violence to south Kashmir. Whether they remain isolated attacks or signal a wider escalation will depend on the findings of the continuing investigations.