Two Village Defence Guards (VDGs) were shot dead by terrorists in the higher reaches of Kishtwar district on Thursday. Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar, both residents of Ohli, Kuntwara, a remote area of the vast district, had gone to graze their cattle in Munzla Dhar forest in the Adhwari area, according to some officials.
Geographically, Kishtwar district is the largest district of the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu & Kashmir. It is very sparsely populated and many habitations are located in such areas that it can take hours of walk on foot to reach them. Connectivity too is an issue in many areas even now, whether it is the connectivity of roads, or communication (mobile or telephone network).
Sanatana Dharam Sabha of Kisthwar gave a call for observing bandh in the entire district on Friday. According to reports received from various parts of the district, a total bandh is being observed and all business establishments have kept their shutters down. Protest demonstrations were also reported from some areas with slogans being raised against those supporting terror activities.
The officials said the police parties fanned out into forests near Ohli looking in search for the VDG members after they failed to return to their homes in the evening. Incidentally, neither of the VDG members was carrying the weapons they have been issued.
A week ago, Kuldeep Kumar’s father Amar Chand had died and he was not going into the nearby forests to graze his cattle for some days. On Thursday, Kuldeep had gone along with his cattle to the forest after many days. Kuldeep’s brother Prithvi Chand said that it has come as a second severe blow in quick succession for the family which had lost a member some days ago.
“We received information that my brother along with Ahmad was abducted and killed by terrorists. They were VDGs and had gone for grazing cattle as usual,” Prithvi said.
Kashmir Tigers, an offshoot of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Muhammad, has claimed responsibility for the killings. They also shared what they called the pictures of the bodies of the deceased with their eyes blindfolded.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and many others have strongly condemned the heinous terrorist attack on VDG members in Kishtwar. Paying homage to martyrs Nazir Ahmad & Kuldeep Kumar, Mr Sinha reiterated the government’s resolve to destroy all terror outfits and avenge the barbaric act.
In a post on X, he wrote: “No words are strong enough to condemn the heinous terrorist attack on VDG members in Kishtwar. I convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of brave sons martyred in this cowardly attack. We are firmly resolved to destroy all terror outfits & avenge this barbaric act”. CM Omar said that such terrorist killings of innocent persons were meant to destroy the peace and tranquillity of J&K.
Meanwhile, two terrorists were killed in an encounter in the Sagipora area of Sopore in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday morning. The gunfight had started late on Thursday night after a joint operation was launched by the JK Police and 22 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) of the Indian Army.
“Firing was suspended during the late hours of Thursday due to darkness,” an official said. Two to three terrorists were believed to be trapped inside a residential house.
The encounter had resumed on Friday morning and is not over yet though it is confirmed that two terrorists have been killed so far.
