Kishtwar, Sept 20 — In a tragic incident, a Village Defence Guard (VDG) member from Kuntwara area of Kishtwar district died by suicide late Friday evening.
The deceased has been identified as Tek Chand (42), son of Prem Nath, a resident of Akra Hanga, Kuntwara in Drabshalla Tehsil. According to locals, he used his service rifle to take his life at around 9 p.m. at his residence.
Local sources told The Chenab Times that Chand had been under immense stress after his minor daughter, went missing more than a week ago. She is alleged to have been taken away by a local youth, identified as Sishu Ram, son of Roshan Lal of Gratan village. Despite Chand having lodged a complaint, the girl is yet to be traced.
Villagers said police had also visited Chand’s house on Friday in connection with the inquiry.
Police teams rushed to the spot soon after the incident and have started an investigation.
VDGs, earlier known as Village Defence Committees (VDCs), are groups of local volunteers armed by the government to act as the first line of defence in villages vulnerable to militant attacks across Chenab Valley.
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Asif Iqbal Naik is a senior journalist and Senior Advisor at The Chenab Times
