Two Village Defence Guards (VDGs) were killed by terrorists on Thursday in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, amidst an ongoing surge in terror attacks in the region this year. The victims were identified as Nazir Ahmed, son of Mohammad Khalil, and Kuldeep Kumar, son of Amar Chand, both residents of Ohli Kuntwara village. While official confirmation from the Jammu and Kashmir Police is still pending, sources have corroborated the incident.
According to reports, the two VDGs were abducted, blindfolded, and executed by militants in the upper reaches of Kuntwara. The terrorist group Kashmir Tigers, an offshoot of Jaish-e-Mohammad, claimed responsibility for the attack. The group also released a photograph of the two deceased guards along with a letter written in Urdu, although the authenticity of the claims has not been independently verified.
In the letter, purportedly from Kashmir Tigers, the militants detailed the events leading to the killings. The letter alleged that the two VDGs had pursued the terrorists into dense forests, despite being ignored by the militants initially. When the VDGs continued their pursuit, the militants captured them, allegedly extracted confessions, and executed them. The letter also included a warning for those joining the VDGs, urging people not to collaborate with the Indian Army. It claimed that the group had never targeted civilians and had only been fighting Indian forces.
The translated excerpt from the letter read:”Two active VDGs, Kuldeep Kumar and Nazir Ahmed, chased Mujahideen in the forests of Kishtwar. Despite being ignored, they continued the chase, which led to their capture. After they confessed to their crimes, both were executed. This should serve as a lesson to those who join the VDGs.”
The letter further warned that those joining the VDGs would face a similar fate, emphasizing that the group had not harmed civilians but was targeting Indian military personnel.
An intelligence report from local police also confirmed the incident, stating that the two VDGs had gone to the upper reaches of Munzla Dhar on Thursday morning to graze their cattle. They failed to return by evening, and their bodies were later found in the jungle. The report also noted that the Kashmir Tigers had taken responsibility for the killings.
The Village Defence Committees (VDCs), now known as Village Defence Groups (VDGs), have been a crucial part of the security apparatus in Jammu and Kashmir since their establishment in the 1990s. Initially set up in the Chenab Valley to help villagers defend against cross-border terrorism, the VDGs consist of local villagers and law enforcement personnel. There are currently around 4,125 VDG members in the Union Territory, with regular training provided by the Indian Army in areas such as weapons handling and intelligence gathering.
This attack highlights the continued volatility in the region and the growing challenges faced by the local security forces in combating terrorism and maintaining order in the wake of rising militant activities.
