Two Village Defence Guards were executed by terrorists on Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, officials reported. The victims, Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar, were abducted while grazing cattle in the Munzla Dhar forest.
A joint search operation by police and the Army is underway in the dense forest area following the killings.
The gruesome act was condemned by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and leaders from various political parties. Lieutenant Governor Sinha expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, stating, “No words are strong enough to condemn the heinous terrorist attack on VDG members. I convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of the brave sons martyred in this cowardly attack. We are firmly resolved to destroy all terror outfits and avenge this barbaric act.”
Political Leaders Condemn Killings
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah also denounced the killings. The National Conference stated that such violent acts hinder efforts to achieve lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir. Other political figures, including BJP leader Kavinder Gupta and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, joined in condemning the violence.
Kashmir Tigers, linked to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad, claimed responsibility for the killings. They shared images of the victims with their eyes blindfolded. The village learned about the tragedy when terrorists used the victims’ phones to share execution pictures.
Increased Terror Attacks in Region
Kishtwar and other districts like Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Udhampur, Doda, and Kathua have seen a rise in terror attacks this year. Security agencies attribute this to attempts by handlers across the border to revive militancy in these otherwise peaceful areas.
Prithvi Kumar, Kuldeep’s brother, mentioned that a search operation is ongoing but the bodies have not been recovered yet. He shared that their father Amar Chand passed away a week ago, making this news another devastating blow for their family.
The tragic incident has sparked widespread condemnation from various political parties. Leaders from Congress and BJP have also voiced their outrage over these brutal killings.
The authorities are determined to bring those responsible to justice and ensure peace is restored in the region. The ongoing search operation aims to locate the bodies and apprehend those involved in this heinous crime.
