Terrorists kill two VDG members in J&K: During a massive search operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, bodies of two Village Defense Guards (VDGs), who were abducted and killed by terrorists, were recovered from a drain on Friday (November 8). A massive cordon and search operation is underway in Kishtwar to trace the terrorists responsible for these killings. Officials said that the terrorists had killed both the defense guards on Thursday (November 7) after abducting them in Kishtwar district. Their bodies were found near a drain in Pondagwari area of Keshavan.
The bodies were located and recovered by the Army and Special Operations Group (SOG), officials said. Police, Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have launched a joint search operation in the dense forest area after the barbaric murder incident. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and leaders of the People’s Democratic Party, Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have condemned the incident.
Officials told PTI that the operation is concentrated in Kuntwara, Ohli and Munjala Dhar hill areas. Additional security forces were also sent early Friday. Security forces have deployed drones and dog squad in the search operation. He told that in the morning a helicopter was seen hovering over the forest area. “Nazir Ahmed and Kuldeep Kumar, residents of Ohli-Kuntwada in Kishtwar, had gone missing while grazing cattle,” a police spokesperson said.
Later, photographs of their dead bodies went viral on social media and their family members identified them, he said. Officials said Ahmed and Kumar had gone to Munjala Dhar forest in Adhwari to graze cattle but did not return. Kumar’s brother Prithvi told PTI, “My brother and Nazir were abducted and killed by terrorists. They were village defense guards and had gone to graze cattle as usual.”
He said the family was in deep shock as Kumar was murdered just a week after his father Amar Chand died. Sources said the villagers came to know about the incident after terrorists used their mobile phones to share photographs of the dead being killed.
Terrorist group Kashmir Tigers took responsibility
The ‘Kashmir Tigers’ group, affiliated with Pakistani terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed, claimed responsibility for the killing and shared photographs of the dead blindfolded. This year, Kishtwar and other districts of Jammu region including Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Udhampur, Doda and Kathua have seen an increase in terrorist attacks. Meanwhile, people in various areas of Kishtwar took to the streets to protest against the murder incident.
The protesters demanded “immediate killing” of the terrorists involved in the killing incident to restore confidence among the local people. Hundreds of people gathered in Drabshala area of the district. They burnt tires and blocked the roads.
LG-CM condemned the murder
Condemning the killing of VDG members, LG Manoj Sinha wrote on We express our heartfelt condolences to all terrorist organizations and are determined to avenge this barbaric act.” Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned both the killings and asked security forces to “fill in any gaps” in the counter-terrorism operation.
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The CM wrote, “Deeply saddened and concerned by the killing of local Village Defense Guards members Kuldeep Kumar and Nazir Ahmed of Kuntwara, Kishtwar. Terrorists killed two innocent people who had taken their animals for grazing. I condemn this attack.” I unequivocally condemn and express my condolences to the families and also expect the security forces to take swift action to plug any gaps in our counter-terrorism grid. Let us ensure that such attacks stop completely.”
