2 village defence guards kidnapped, killed by terrorists in J&K’s Kishtwar

Terrorists kidnapped and killed two Village Defence Group (VDG) members in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday evening.

An offshoot of the Jaish-e Mohammad terrorist organisation, called the “Kashmir tigers,” claimed the responsibility of the attack. The terror group also shared images of the victims’ bodies with their eyes blindfolded. The dead were identified as Nazir Ahmed and Kuldeep Kumar, both residents of Ohli Kuntwara village. Their bodies are yet to be recovered. A massive search operation has been launched by the police to find the bodies.

According to the officials, both Nazir and Kuldeep went to graze their cattle in the forest when they were kidnapped by the terrorists. Speaking with news agency PTI, Kuldeep’s brother Prithvi said, “We have received information that my brother and Ahmad were abducted and killed by terrorists. They were village defence guards (VDGs) and had gone to graze cattle, as usual.”

The killings drew condemnation from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, among others. “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,” Lt Governor tweeted.

The ruling National Conference, in a post on X, said the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and party president Farooq Abdullah, condemned the killings and noted that “such acts of barbaric violence remain a significant impediment in achieving long-lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir”.

Meanwhile, an encounter also erupted in Baramulla and Sopore districts on Thursday, after an anti-terrorist operation was launched.