Srinagar: Security agencies are zeroing in on a local Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative identified as Latif as they probe the deadly terror attack on migrant labourers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, where two workers from Chhattisgarh were gunned down at a brick kiln.

The attack took place on Friday evening at Kilam village in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, when terrorists opened fire on two migrant workers employed at a brick kiln. One worker died soon after the shooting, while the second, who was critically wounded, succumbed during treatment on Saturday.

Fresh reports have confirmed the death toll at two, turning the attack into the first fatal targeted strike on migrant workers in Jammu and Kashmir in nearly 21 months.

The victims have been identified as Deepak and Bhupender, both migrant workers from Chhattisgarh. Security forces rushed to the area after the firing, cordoned off surrounding locations and launched an extensive hunt for the attackers.

#NewsPunch | Two migrant workers from Chhattisgarh were killed after terrorists carried out a targeted attack in Kulgam’s Kelam area of Jammu and Kashmir. Security forces have launched a massive search operation, with authorities directing agencies to eliminate the attackers… pic.twitter.com/EF5UIO0Pyu

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LeT Operative Latif on Agencies’ Radar

The investigation has now turned towards Latif, a local LeT operative, whose possible involvement is being examined by security agencies, according to a News18 report citing agency inputs.

Investigators are reportedly studying his movements and possible links with the network behind the Kulgam strike. Latif is believed to have operated in the south Kashmir belt, making his activities a key focus of the ongoing investigation.

However, security agencies have not publicly established that Latif carried out the attack, and his suspected role remains under investigation.

Did Attackers Change Their Weapon?

Another crucial angle being examined is the weapon used in the shooting.

According to the agency inputs reported by News18, Latif had previously been associated with attacks involving an AK-47-style assault rifle, but investigators suspect a smaller, easily concealable weapon may have been used in the latest strike.

If confirmed, the switch could point to a tactical change — allowing an attacker to move discreetly, strike at close range and escape quickly without attracting the attention associated with carrying an assault rifle.

Ballistic examination and other forensic evidence are expected to play a crucial role in establishing the weapon used and whether it can be linked to previous attacks.

Second Terror Strike in South Kashmir in Days

The Kulgam killings have heightened security concerns as they come less than 10 days after a policeman was shot dead in Anantnag.

The latest incident is the second terror attack reported in south Kashmir within roughly two weeks despite heightened security measures.

The back-to-back attacks have also renewed fears over the vulnerability of migrant labourers in the Valley. Friday’s shooting was the first fatal targeted attack on migrant workers in Jammu and Kashmir in about 21 months, according to reports.

Massive Manhunt Underway

Security forces have intensified search operations in and around Kulgam as investigators try to reconstruct the attackers’ movements, identify possible local support and determine the escape route used after the shooting.

The killings have drawn strong condemnation. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced ₹10 lakh ex gratia each for the families of the two slain workers.

With Latif reportedly under the scanner, investigators are now working to determine whether the Kulgam shooting was an isolated targeted killing or part of a wider terror network attempting to revive attacks on migrant workers and other soft targets in south Kashmir.