Srinagar: Over 50 persons have been detained so far for questioning in connection with the twin attacks which left seven persons, including two brothers and two minors, dead in Dhangri village of Pir Panjal’s Rajouri district on January 1 and 2 and started to train militia under the VDG (Village Defence Guard), approved by the Union home ministry last year.
As per the Jammu and Kashmir Police, a search operation has been launched to track down the two armed men (suspected to be militants) behind the attack and continued on the ninth day on Tuesday, However, their identities remain ascertained.
“Village Defence Guards (VDGs) comprising local volunteers and the border grid is strengthened to keep a tight vigil on possible infiltration routes,” an official said.
“Police has also displayed posters, announcing a reward of Rs 10 lakh to anyone giving credible information about the militants across the district,” he said.
A joint cordon and search operation by the Army, police and CRPF is in progress at over two dozen villages where there were reports of militants presence before the attack, the officials said, adding special operational teams of Jammu and Kashmir police, moved from outside Rajouri, have also been deployed at designated locations.
“Anti-terrorist operation is going on at a massive scale to neutralise the terrorists involved in the Dhangri attack. There are some vital leads and we are working on these to bring the culprits to book,” Senior Superintendent of Police Rajouri, Mohammad Aslam told PTI.
He said additional troops of the CRPF along with police were deployed in sensitive areas to strengthen vigil.
Officials said over 50 suspects have been detained so far during the ongoing operation and are being questioned for their alleged links with militants.
Police have also deployed additional personnel at border posts as part of enhanced security near the Line of Control (LoC) to keep a close vigil on notorious infiltration routes, the officials said.
“Indian Army held a special firing practice session for the volunteers in Mahadev Menka firing range in Sunderbani sector this morning. Over 50 VDGs, drawn from different villages along the LoC, took part in the firing practice session which was held in coordination with local police, the officials said. They said weapon handlers and shooting experts of the Army demonstrated proper use of weapons to VDGs who later practised firing,” he added.
The VDG was earlier known as the Village Defence Committees (VDC), formalised by the J&K government on September 30, 1995 and notified on October 1, 1995 to help government against fighting militancy in the region.
According to official data, 221 criminal cases were filed against VDC members in Jammu – including 23 cases of murder and seven cases of rape, 15 cases of rioting, three anti-drug cases. Charges have been filed in 205 cases.
Earlier, Unionists including former Chief Minister Mehbooba mufti criticised the move and said giving arms to civilians is fatal to society.