Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday alleged that the killing of two migrant labourers from Chhattisgarh in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district was the result of a "security lapse" and demanded a thorough investigation into the incident.

Addressing reporters in Srinagar, Mehbooba questioned how militants managed to carry out the attack despite the heightened security arrangements in place for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.

"I feel this cycle must stop. Despite the heavy security presence, which causes so much agony to the locals, such incidents happen. In my view, there was a lapse in security somewhere," Mehbooba told reporters here.

She said the Lieutenant Governor-led administration, which is responsible for law and order in the Union Territory, should examine how the attack occurred despite the deployment of Army, CRPF and police personnel.

"There must be a proper investigation into the killings. Why are such incidents happening despite so much security due to the Yatra? The government needs to look into where the lapse happened. How could the militants come in despite the presence of the Army, CRPF and police, and shoot two unarmed people dead?" she asked.

The victims, Deepak Ratray and Bopinder, both in their 20s and residents of Chhattisgarh, were attacked at a brick kiln in the Kelam area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district on Friday evening.

Officials said Ratray died before he could be shifted to hospital, while Bopinder, who was initially taken to Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag and later referred to SKIMS Hospital in Srinagar, succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

Expressing grief over the killings, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said words were insufficient to condemn the attack.

"I am at a loss for words. These people come from far away to earn a living, to feed their family. They are human beings just like us. Why do people come from so far? Because perhaps there are no job opportunities back home and they find work here in Kashmir," Mehbooba said.

She also appealed to the administration and security agencies not to use the incident as an "excuse" to target innocent civilians.

"When a constable was martyred recently, thousands of people were rounded up after being branded as over-ground workers (OGWs). They were detained. Shopkeepers are being questioned in Anantnag even now… Even an 80-year-old man was detained for a long time in the name of being an OGW.

"The Kulgam incident should not become another excuse for the security agencies and police to harass ordinary Kashmiris who have nothing to do with it," she said.

Referring to the broader impact of such attacks, Mehbooba said the people of Kashmir also suffer because of the violence.

"Our children go to other states to study, while our shawl vendors travel across the country… They are the ones who face the brunt of such tension. We would never want something like this to happen," she said.

The terror attack comes days after Jammu and Kashmir Police head constable Ashiq Hussain was shot dead by a lone terrorist in Anantnag while on Amarnath Yatra duty.