Terrorists shot dead 2 VDG’s in Kishtwar, CASO underway

CM, others condemn attack

Jammu: Two village defence guards (VDGs) were killed on Thursday in a militant attack in the Chatroo area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district.
The VDGs were identified as Kuldeep Kumar and Nazir. A massive joint search operation has been launched by police and the Army in a dense forest area, but nothing has been found so far.
The officials said Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar, both residents of Ohli-Kuntwara, had gone to graze their cattle in Munzla Dhar forest in Adhwari area this morning, but did not return.
They said police parties fanned out to find them amid reports that they have been abducted and killed by the terrorists.
"We have received information that my brother along with Ahmad was abducted and killed by terrorists. They were VDGs and have gone for grazing cattle as usual," Kumar’s brother Prithvi said .
He said a massive search operation is on but the bodies of the deceased were not recovered so far.
Prithvi said his father Amar Chand died a week ago and the reports about his brother came as another big shock for the family.
Meanwhile, Kashmir Tigers, an offshoot of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror outfit, has claimed that they killed the VDGs. They also shared what they called were the pictures of the bodies of the deceased with their eyes blindfolded.
As per reports, the area has witnessed militant movement for the past several months, a senior officer said, adding that during the recent Assembly elections, there had been exchanges of fire between militants and security forces in the area on at least two occasions.
This is the second militant attack in Jammu province in the last nine days. On October 29, Army troops killed all the three militants who had attacked an ambulance in Jammu district’s Battal area.
Meanwhile, LG of Jammu and Kashmir condemned that attack.
“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,” he wrote on X.
National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah and vice president and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the gruesome killing of two VDGs in Kishtwar.
The leaders said that such acts of barbaric violence remain a significant impediment in achieving the long-lasting peace in J&K. “In this hour of grief, their thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased,” the NC wrote on X.