⛔ Sanatan Dharam Sabha Rajouri calls for Bandh today ⛔Azad, Ravinder Raina, others condemn barbaric attack
STATE TIMES NEWS
RAJOURI/JAMMU: Pakistan sponsored terrorists opened fire on three houses of Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK) refugees in Dangri village in Rajouri District on Sunday evening, killing four civilians and injuring several others, officials said.
Additional Director General of Police, Jammu Zone, Mukesh Singh said police, along with the Army and the CRPF, have launched a massive search operation to nab the terrorists who attacked at Upper Dangri village, about eight kilometres from Rajouri town.
“Firing took place at three houses, separated at a distance of around 50 metres from each other. Three civilians succumbed to injuries on spot and seven others were injured,” Singh said. However, one injured civilian succumbed to his injuries in hospital, taking the death toll to four.
Quoting eyewitnesses, the officials said two suspected terrorists appeared in the village around 7:00 pm and opened indiscriminate firing on three houses and fled away. Over hundred families of PoJK refugees during 1947 partition had settled in village Dangri in Rajouri.
High alert in Rajouri; security forces launch massive search operation
The deceased have been identified as Deepak Kumar (23), son of Rajinder Kumar, Satish Kumar (45), son of Sat Paul and Pritam Lal (56), son of Lal Chand and Shiv Pal alias Ashish (32), son of Pritam Sharma, all residents of Dangri. The injured include Pawan Kumar (38), son of Sat Pal, Rohit Pandit (35); Saroj Bala (35) wife of Satish Kumar, Sushil Kumar (40) son of Kundan Lal, Shubham Sharma (20) son of Pritam Lal and Urishi Sharma (17) daughter of Satish Kumar, all residents of Dangri.
“This is targeted killing” , said Rajiv Chunni, Chairman SOS International- an organization of PoK ‘refugees’ settled in J&K, demanding security for these innocent civilians, who have always stayed at their place even during peak terrorism time. “Many times they were threatened by terror groups to leave the place but these people stayed united and pledged to fight the anti-national elements and Pak sponsored terrorism,” Rajiv said, adding “Pakistan must be given a strong reply for this coward act”.
Sanatan Dharam Sabha (SDS) Rajouri has given a call for Bandh in the border district on Monday in protest against the brutal attack by the terrorists resulting into death of four innocent civilians and critical injuries to several others including women and children. The Bandh call has been supported by VHP, BJP and Beopar Mandal.
“Showing solidarity with the victims we appeal all the shopkeepers to keep their shutters down and transport services will remain suspended”, spokesperson of SDS Rajouri said.
Medical Superintendent of Government Medical College (GMC) Rajouri, Dr Mehmood, said 10 people injured in the firing were brought to the hospital. Three of them were declared brought dead while one succumbed to his injuries in hospital, he added.
He said the injured have multiple bullet wounds. Shubham Sharma and Rohit Pandit have been airlifted to GMC Jammu.
Deeraj Kumar, Sarpanch of Dangri, said gunshots were heard around 7:00 PM and after some time their intensity increased. Later, I received calls that there was firing by terrorists, he added.
Kumar said it was after a long time that targeted killings were carried out in the area. He termed the incident as a major security lapse.
There was already a threat perception and searches too were conducted in some of areas of the district, he added.
DAP Chief Ghulam Nabi Azad condemned the barbaric attack in Rajouri.
“I strongly condemn brutal terror attack at Dangri, Rajouri in which four civilians have been killed. This is an act of cowardice. My deepest condolences to the families and relatives of the victims, and wish a speedy recovery to the injured” Azad wrote on twitter.
Ravinder Raina, BJP president of Jammu and Kashmir, condemned the incident and said none of the terrorists would be spared and the region would be cleared of terrorism.
“Cowardly Pakistani terrorists have once again committed a grave crime by killing innocent people. The conspiracy to target innocent people was hatched by Pakistan to create a fear among the people,” Raina said.
“None of the terrorists will be spared,” he said adding that said Pakistan-sponsored terrorists are desperate and they’re targeting innocent and unarmed civilians in frustration.
“They will have to pay a heavy price for their crimes against humanity,” Raina said.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress strongly condemned the terrorists attack at Dangri.
Terming the incident as serious and shocking, JKPCC President Vikar Rasool Wani, Working President Raman Bhalla, Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, District President Shabir Ahmed Khan have expressed great shock over the martyrdom of four persons and injuries to ten persons in a terrorists attack today evening.
The incident is very serious and belies claims of the government and the security heads regarding the ground situation. The party extended full support to the police & security forces to firmly deal with terrorism and save innocent lives.
The party express sympathies with the families of victims and with the injured and demanded ex-gratia of Rs 50 lakh to the families of those killed and Rs 10 lakh to each injured.