VDCs to be revived, rearmed; senior officers were intended target: DGP
STATE TIMES NEWS
Rajouri/Jammu: In an apparent security lapse, two cousins – aged four and 16 – were martyred when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off in a village in Rajouri area on Monday, 14 hours after terrorists had shot dead four people there.
The terrorists, locals claimed, had planted the IED on Sunday itself and it was missed during the scanning by police and security officials who had cordoned off the area after the shootings last evening.
Samiksha Sharma (16), daughter of Koushal Sharma and Vihan Kumar Sharma (4), son of Sushil Kumar were killed and six others injured in the blast in Dangri village near the house of Pritam Lal, a victim of the Sunday attack, locals said. There were several people, including Lal’s relatives, in the house when the blast took place at around 9.30 am. Six persons were killed and 12 injured in the two incidents.
The injured include Kamlesh Devi (50), wife of Gopal Das; Sharda Devi (38), wife of Satnam Sharma; Kanayia Sharma (14), son of Vipan Kumar; Soniksha Sharma (10), daughter of Raj Kumar; Sajal (15), daughter of Koushal Kumar; Vanshu Sharma (13), son of Koushal Kumar; Sanvi Sharma (7), daughter of Sushil Kumar and Anjali Sharma (8), daughter of Sushil Kumar
Village Sarpanch (headman) Deepak Kumar said that it was a serious security lapse on the part of police and security agencies.
“It is a serious security lapse by security agencies. Minority community people do not feel secure. The administration should take tough measures,” he told reporters in Rajouri.
As the incidents led to protests across the district, including in Rajouri town, and a complete shutdown, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh, who visited the site, said that the IED blast was intended to target senior officers who were about to reach there. The officers reached the spot late. The incident had happened already, he added
He announced that Village Defence Committees (VDCs) will now be revived and rearmed, after some protesting leaders and locals claimed that the incidents could have been averted had the authorities not taken away the weapons of VDCs.
Talking to reporters, he said: “We will have to give them a befitting reply.”
Replying to their concern, DGP said that guns will not be taken back.
“If some guns have been taken back, they will be returned. Wherever there is a need for more guns, they will be provided”, he said.
The DGP said that there is a need to give a boost to VDCs.
He said that the attacks were an act of cowardice.
“Only a coward can attack an innocent unarmed person. They did this act of cowardice and are hiding now. We will hunt them down,” he said.
The DGP met the protesters who were refusing to conduct the last rites of the victims till Lt Governor Manoj Sinha came to the spot.
Urging protestors to allow cremation of the bodies, he said, “We have to undertake the cremation of our loved ones as per rituals. We should not dishonour them”.
The DGP said that whatever will be the decision of the local leaders and families, “we will act accordingly”.
He appreciated the people of Rajouri for always standing by security forces in the battle against terrorists.
“They have fought no less than a soldier,” he said.
The DGP said that security will be reviewed and necessary measures will be put in place for the safety of the people.
“I am sad over the killings. It is a matter of grief. It is time to give a boost to VDCs.
“No guns will be taken away…, if some guns have been taken away, they will be returned (to VDCs) and more guns will be provided if needed,” he said.
Senior J-K BJP leader and former MLC Vibodh Gupta alleged that 60 per cent of the guns of VDCs have been taken back.
The VDCs were first set up in the mid-1990s in the Chenab Valley area of Jammu to arm and train villagers to defend against Pakistan-sponsored militants and comprise villagers as well as Special Police Officers (SPOs).
Officials said a team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has reached Dangri village for an investigation
The army and police are conducting a massive search operation, the senior police officer, who reached the spot along with Jammu-Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar, said.
He said that locals have reported that two terrorists are involved in the attack.
These are the first such incidents in the past many years in the otherwise peaceful Jammu region.
In Jammu, protests against Pakistan were held by VHP, Bajrang Dal, Mission Statehood, Shiv Sena and Dogra Front.
