J&K killing: Locals refuse to cremate bodies of 4 victims, call for minority’s safety

Residents and families of the four men who were slain in a targeted attack at Dhangri in Rajouri, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), on Sunday took to the streets with the remains of the victims in a fit of rage, calling for the minorities’ safety.

The demonstrators criticised the transfer of senior police superintendent Mohammad Aslam and deputy magistrate Vikas Kundal as well as the security forces’ and intelligence services’ failure to stop terrorism in the area.

Six people were hurt when unidentified armed individuals in a suspected terrorist attack opened fire on Deepak Kumar, 23, Satish Kumar, 45, Pritam Lal, 56, and Shiv Pal, 32, killing them all.

In order to protest the killings, the Sanatan Dharam Sabha and other Hindu organisations like the Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal have called for a bandh. The call has received backing from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Rajesh Kumar, a local resident, said they will not cremate the bodies unless lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha visits Dhangri, announces adequate compensation, and jobs for the kin of four besides assuring them of a safe and secure environment without fear.

Additional director general of police Mukesh Singh said three houses separated by a distance of around 50 metres were fired upon in Dhangri and left the four dead. He added a search operation was launched in the area.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers came in a car and fired indiscriminately before fleeing from the spot.

The incident occurred a few days after security forces and at least four armed terrorists were killed in a truck during a gunfight at Sidhra, near Jammu, on December 28 during a high alert in the area leading up to Republic Day.

On December 16, gunfire outside the gate of an army camp in Rajouri resulted in the shooting deaths of two civilians and the injury of a third.

A police officer said the residents alleged a sentry fired and called it a mistaken identity but the army denied the allegation. The army blamed “unidentified terrorists” for the deaths of Surinder Kumar, 40, and Kamal Kishore, 39.