Jammu: Two Village Defence Guards (VDGs) were abducted and killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Thursday. The victims, Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar were members of a village defence committee set up by the Jammu and Kashmir Police to protect local communities from terrorist threats.
Police said two men had gone to graze cattle in the Munzla Dhar forest in Adhwari area but failed to return, prompting immediate concerns of a kidnapping. Family members of the victims had confirmed the abductions, with Kuldeep Kumar’s brother, Prithvi, stating that his brother and Ahmad were taken by terrorists.
"We have 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 told news agency PTI.
A large-scale joint search operation was launched by the police and the Army across a dense forest area. The Kashmir Tigers, an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror group, later claimed responsibility for the killings. They released photos of the victims' bodies, reportedly showing them with their eyes blindfolded.
Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha condemned the heinous terrorist attack in which two village defence guards were killed in the Kishtawar district.
The LG paid homage to the two deceased Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar who were killed in the attack and reiterated the Government's resolve to destroy all terror outfits and avenge the barbaric act.
Taking to social media X, Sinha wrote in a post "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."
On Thursday, Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and National Conference President Farooq Abdullah condemned the killing of the guards.
In a post on X, JKNC said, "JKNC President Dr Farooq Abdullah and VP & Chief Minister @OmarAbdullah have condemned the gruesome killing of two village defence guards in Kishtwar namely Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar, in a forest area."
"They have said that such acts of barbaric violence remain a significant impediment in achieving long-lasting peace in J-K. In this hour of grief, their thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased," read the post.
JKNC President Dr Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the gruesome killing of two village defence guards in Kishtwar namely Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar, in a forest area. They said that such acts of barbaric violence remain a significant impediment to achieving long-lasting peace in J&K. In this hour of grief, their thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased.
