SRINAGAR, August 14: In a tragic incident in the remote Pancheri area of Udhampur district in Jammu and Kashmir, one member of the Village Defence Guard (VDG) was killed and another critically injured on Friday after a fellow VDG member allegedly opened fire following a scuffle.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the incident occurred when the VDG members were reportedly en route to the Damnot police post. Surjeet Singh, a resident of Sasri Damnot, is alleged to have fired upon his colleagues in a moment of rage, leading to the death of Baldev Singh and serious injuries to Romesh Singh.
Following the incident, the injured VDG member was immediately transported to a nearby hospital for medical attention. Local police were alerted and a team was dispatched to the scene of the firing. Efforts are reportedly underway to apprehend the accused VDG member, Surjeet Singh.
Officials stated that the precise reasons behind the altercation and the sequence of events that precipitated the shooting are still under investigation. The remote nature of the Pancheri area, where the incident took place, has added to the challenges of the ongoing probe and the immediate apprehension of the accused.
The Village Defence Guard system was established in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to augment the security grid, particularly in remote and militancy-affected areas. VDG members, who are locals, are provided with arms and training to assist security forces in maintaining law and order and combating militant activities. Incidents of internal conflict or violence within VDG ranks are rare, making this occurrence a point of concern for local authorities.
The Udhampur district administration has stated that a thorough investigation into the matter is being conducted to ascertain all facts. Further details regarding the motive behind the firing and the circumstances surrounding the altercation are expected to be released as the investigation progresses. Security forces have heightened their presence in the vicinity to ensure calm and prevent any untoward incidents.
The Chenab Times News Desk