Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir – Tensions have flared in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir after two Village Defence Guards (VDGs) were brutally killed by terrorists, sparking widespread outrage and protests across the region. The bodies of the two victims, Nazir Ahmed and Kuldeep Kumar, were recovered on Friday near a rivulet in the Pondgwari area of Keshwan, close to the site of their abduction, with security forces now in the midst of an extensive search operation aimed at capturing the perpetrators.
The shocking killings occurred on Thursday, when the two VDG members, who were stationed in the upper reaches of Kishtwar for the protection of local villages, were abducted by terrorists while grazing livestock in the Munzla Dhar forest. The victims’ bodies were later discovered in a gruesome state near the rivulet, with reports confirming that both men were executed by the militants.
In response to the tragedy, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, alongside the Army, Special Operations Group (SOG), and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), have launched a large-scale cordon-and-search operation in the dense forests of Kishtwar, with a specific focus on the hilly terrains of Kuntwara, Ohli, and Munzla Dhar. The search is being supported by drones, sniffer dogs, and aerial surveillance, as authorities intensify efforts to track down the terrorists behind the deadly attack.
A statement issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Police confirmed the identification of the deceased as Nazir Ahmed and Kuldeep Kumar, both residents of the village of Ohli-Kuntwara. According to the police, the two were abducted on Thursday while tending to their cattle and were later killed by terrorists associated with the Kashmir Tigers, a faction of the Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). The group has since claimed responsibility for the killings, sharing harrowing images of the victims with their hands tied and blindfolded.
“My brother and Nazir were abducted and killed by terrorists. They were Village Defence Guards and had gone to graze cattle as usual,” said Prithvi Kumar, the brother of Kuldeep Kumar, speaking to news agency PTI. “Our family is devastated. Just last week, we lost our father, and now this.” The tragic loss has shocked the local community, with residents expressing anger over the rising wave of militant violence in the region.
The murder of the two VDG members has been condemned across political lines. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have both issued strong statements expressing their outrage at the killings. Local political leaders from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Congress, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have also joined in the condemnation, calling for swift justice and an intensification of counterterrorism operations in the region.
The incident has triggered protests in various parts of Kishtwar, particularly in the Drabshalla area, where locals gathered in large numbers to demand justice for the slain VDGs. Hundreds of residents took to the streets, burning tires and blocking roads, chanting slogans against the terrorists responsible for the attack. The protests have continued into the weekend, with residents calling for the immediate elimination of those behind the killings in order to restore peace and confidence in the region.
“We demand that the killers be brought to justice immediately,” said one protester, who declined to give their name. “We cannot allow these terrorists to disrupt the peace of our villages. The government needs to act now.”
This latest attack comes amid an alarming surge in terrorism-related violence in Jammu’s Kishtwar and surrounding districts, including Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Udhampur, Doda, and Kathua. Security agencies have noted a rise in militant activity this year, which they attribute to cross-border handlers attempting to revive insurgency in areas that have, in recent years, enjoyed relative peace.
The growing wave of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir has raised serious concerns about the safety of rural populations, particularly in areas like Kishtwar, which have historically been less prone to terrorist attacks. Village Defence Guards (VDGs), who are locals recruited to safeguard their own communities, have become primary targets for insurgent groups seeking to destabilize the region.
Kishtwar, once considered one of the more peaceful districts in the Jammu region, has seen a number of attacks in recent months, signaling a worrying shift in the dynamics of militancy in the area. The rise in terror strikes, especially against civilian targets like VDG members, has underscored the growing challenge faced by security forces in curbing insurgent activity in the region.
In addition to the local unrest, regional authorities have heightened security measures across the district. The Jammu and Kashmir Police have urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies as the search for the militants continues. Helicopter patrols have been deployed, and an increased police presence has been seen in key areas of Kishtwar.
The recovery of the bodies and the subsequent protests are a stark reminder of the precarious security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, where the shadow of militancy continues to loom large. The demand for justice from the victims’ families and the local population is expected to keep the pressure on authorities to intensify their efforts in the region.
As the search operation continues, the people of Kishtwar await answers, and the message from the protests is clear: The terrorists responsible for these senseless killings must be apprehended and eliminated to restore peace and stability to the region.
