Jammu: Residents across Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district staged protests after two Village Defence Guards were killed by militants on Thursday evening.
In Drabshalla, hundreds gathered, burning tyres and blocking roads, while chanting slogans against Pakistan and militancy and raising cries of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. Protests also took place in Kuntwara and nearby areas, where demonstrators chanted ‘Pakistan Murdabad’ and held sit-ins on the roads.
“This type of incident hasn’t occurred here in a long time,” said Drabshalla resident Kuldeep Singh, referring to the two guards, who were abducted and killed while grazing cattle. “This act is cowardly, and the people here will not tolerate it.”
Protesters demanded swift action against the perpetrators and a comprehensive operation to clear out militants in the area, emphasising the need for safety to return to local grazing lands. A shutdown was also observed in Kishtwar, with the Sanatan Dharam Sabha calling for a complete bandh on Friday.
On Thursday, two Village Defence Guards were abducted and killed in Kishtwar’s remote areas, sparking an ongoing joint search operation by the police and Army. The attack, claimed by the Kashmir Tigers, a branch of Jaish-e-Mohammad, also involved circulating images of the victims with their eyes blindfolded.
The killings have been widely condemned by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and leaders across political parties, including the National Conference, PDP, Congress, and BJP.
