Two Village Defence Guards (VDGs), who were reported missing on Thursday (November 7) in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, have been kiled by terrorists. Following this, a massive joint search operation has been launched by police and the Army in the dense forest area. However, nothing has been found so far.
The VDGs, identified as Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar, had gone to graze their cattle in Munzla Dhar forest in Adhwari area on Thursday morning, but did not return. Both of them were residents of Ohli-Kuntwara.
J-K LG Manoj Sinha Condemns Kishtwar Terror Attack, Vows To Avenge It
Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha condemned the heinous terrorist attack and offered condolences to the bereaved families.
"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," J&K LG office said in a statement on X.
After they went missing, police teams fanned out to find them as reports saying that the VDGs have been abducted and killed by the terrorists surfaced.
"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 had told news agency PTI.
He stated that a massive search operation was launched but the bodies of the deceased had not been recovered. He also said the reports about his brother's abduction are another major shock to the family as his father Amar Chand had died a week ago.
Meanwhile, Kashmir Tigers, an offshoot of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror outfit, claimed that they had killed the defence guards. They also shared the pictures of the bodies of the deceased with their eyes blindfolded, PTI reported.
Congress leader Ravindra Sharma condemned the barbaric act and urged the central government to take action to control the terror attacks.