Kulgam Killings Aftermath: West Bengal Govt To Bring Back 131 Workers From Kashmir

The West Bengal government is all set to bring back 131 workers from Valley following the killing of five migrant labourers who were shot dead by terrorists in Kulgam district of south Kashmir.  Another labourer was critically injured by the terrorists. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said, “A total of 131 workers who had gone to Kashmir are being brought back to West Bengal.”

Two officials have already left for Kashmir to bring back the workers to the state via train, according to The Indian Express report. Earlier, Mamata Banerjee had said that all help will be extended to the families of the five workers.

Tensions are high in Kashmir after New Delhi on August 5 announced abrogation of provisions of Article 370 and decided to bifurcate the state into Union territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh - hours after Kashmir was placed under a total clampdown.

Bashirul Sarkar, the only labourer fortunate to have escaped Tuesday's terrorist attack in Kashmir, said he would never return to the Valley, no matter what the financial circumstances are. Devastated over the loss of five of his friends, who were gunned down in Kulgam district of the Union Territory, Sarkar said on Thursday that he was yet to come to terms with the ghastly incident. Sarkar had gone out to fetch food when terrorists had attacked his fellow mates. 

"Ill never go back to Kashmir... I've lost five of my friends there. I'll do something else to survive but would never want to go back to Kashmir for work, Sarkar told news agency PTI at Kolkata’s SSKM hospital, where he was admitted for a day after reaching the city on Wednesday from the trouble-torn Valley.

The mortal remains of the five slain labourers were also brought to the city on Wednesday night and taken to their hometown in Bahal Nagar village of West Bengal's Murshidabad district. They were laid to rest on Thursday afternoon.