NL Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 07: Two Village Defence Guards were shot dead by terrorists in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday, officials said. Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar, both residents of Ohli-Kuntwara, had gone to graze their cattle in Munzla Dhar forest in the Adhwari area, the officials said.
They said police parties fanned out after the pair of Village Defence Guards (VDGs) failed to return to their homes in the evening.
Kashmir Tigers, an offshoot of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad, has claimed responsibility for the killings.
The officials said that the bodies are yet to be recovered while the teams have been dispatched to the spot and search operation is launched to track down the terrorists.
Reacting to the killings, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said, “We are firmly resolved to destroying all terror outfits and avenging this barbaric act.
Meanwhile, National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah and vice president and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the gruesome killing of two VDGs in Kishtwar.
Meanwhile, an encounter broke out between militants and security forces in Sopore sub district on Thursday evening.
An official said the encounter erupted when joint forces launched a cordon and a search operation in the Sagipora area of Sopore following an input about militant presence. “The CASO turned into an encounter when hiding terrorists opened fire,” officials said, adding that the operation is underway.
Additional forces have been rushed to the area to ensure a tight cordon during the night hours.
Army’s Srinagar based Chinar Corps said the operation is in progress.
“ On 07 Nov 24, based on specific intelligence regarding presence of terrorists, a joint Operation launched by the IndianArmy & @JmuKmrPolice in Panipura, Sopore, Baramulla. Suspicious activity was observed by vigilant troops and on being challenged terrorists opened indiscriminate fire. Own troops effectively retaliated. Operation is in progress,” Chinar Corps posted on X.
This is the third encounter since Tuesday in north Kashmir. In earlier two encounters two militants were killed in separate encounters in Kupwara and Bandipora districts.
