Ex-Village Defense Guard Discovered Deceased in Mysterious Circumstances in Udhampur, J&K
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Jammu, Dec 3 (NationPress) A former village defense guard (VDG) was discovered deceased on Tuesday under mysterious circumstances in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Officials reported that the remains of 45-year-old Ashok Kumar, a resident of Chapper village in Udhampur, were located in a forested area.
“He had previously been relieved of his duties as a VDG. His body was found with a point 303 rifle positioned beside him. The police have taken custody of the body to complete the necessary medico-legal procedures after registering a case related to this incident,” officials stated.
The village defense guards are issued weapons by the police following basic training in weapon handling. These guards are responsible for safeguarding their families and villages against terrorist threats in remote and difficult-to-reach regions of the Jammu division.
The J&K Police have made the decision to equip the VDGs with automatic weapons to enhance their capability in confronting terror threats.
Terrorists perceive the village defense guards as the eyes and ears of security forces, rendering the VDGs particularly susceptible to attacks from terror groups.
Some members of the village defense committees, including women, have been recognized for their extraordinary courage in defending their honor and families against terrorists.
It is important to note that there have been numerous brutal attacks by terrorists targeting the army, security forces, and civilians over the past four months.
On October 20, two terrorists opened fire indiscriminately within a workers' camp of an infrastructure company in the Gagangir area of the Ganderbal district in Kashmir. This attack resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, including six non-local workers and a local doctor.
On October 24, terrorists assaulted an army vehicle in the Botapathri area of the Gulmarg hill station, claiming the lives of three soldiers and two civilian porters.
On November 2, terrorists launched a grenade attack at the busy Sunday Market near the tourist reception center (TRC) in Srinagar city, resulting in the death of a 42-year-old mother of three and injuring nine other civilians in the process.
