Militants shoot at 2 UP natives in J-K’s Budgam

Two men from Uttar Pradesh were shot at by militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district on Friday evening, officials said.

Sufiyan and Usman were injured after being shot at in Mazhama area of Magam in the central Kashmir district, they said.

They were taken to a hospital and were stated to be in stable condition, the officials added.

Political parties in the Valley condemned the attack with National Conference (NC) MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi asking "why this sudden rise in these attacks immediately after the recent elections".

In a post on X, the Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar said, "Saddened by the news of the terrorist attack on civilians in Mazhama, Budgam. My sympathies and prayers with the victims and their families."

"The BJP regime which is directly in control of the security in Jammu and Kashmir should be held accountable for these repeated failures," he said.

"Also want to ask why this sudden rise in these attacks immediately after the recent elections?"

Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra strongly condemned the attack, terming it most unfortunate and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Karra urged the government to take effective measures to contain "such inhuman, shameful and cowardice acts".

Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari described the attack as the worst form of cowardice.

"Terrorists have once again attacked non-local labourers, this time in Mazahama, leaving two of them injured. This is the worst form of cowardice on the part of the perpetrators. I pray for the swift recovery of the injured. The security agencies must ensure that the perpetrators are caught and brought to justice," he said.

The Peoples' Conference led by Sajad Lone said it was senseless violence.

"We strongly condemn the cowardly attack on two innocent individuals -- Sufiyan and Usman from Uttar Pradesh -- who were shot at by militants in Budgam today. This senseless violence has left them injured and we pray for their quick recovery," the party posted on X.

This is the fifth attack by terrorists in the Kashmir Valley since the formation of an elected government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.