Two militants target 3 houses of minorities at Upper Dhangri
QRTs of Army, CRPF, police cordon off village; launch massive searches
Various organizations call for bandh in Rajouri today as protests erupt
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 1: JAMMU, Jan 1: In a dastardly act, two militants opened firing targeting three houses of minority community at village Upper Dhangri, about eight kilometres from Rajouri town this evening killing four civilians including father-son duo and a PHE employee and injuring six others resulting into instant protests while Sanatan Dharam Sabha (SDS) and other organisations gave a call for bandh in Rajouri tomorrow.
The terror attack came just days after two civilians were killed outside an Army gate in Rajouri town amid reports that they were gunned down by the militants.
Eyewitnesses and police officials told the Excelsior that two militants armed with AK rifles appeared at Upper Dhangri from surrounding forest area at the stroke of 7 pm and targeted three houses of minorities near a temple one by one and rained bullets after confirming identity of civilians through Aadhaar cards.
The firing continued for 10 minutes in the three houses separated by around 50 metres after which both the militants fled away from the scene.
Three persons had died on spot and seven others were injured. Another injured succumbed while being airlifted tonight from Rajouri to Jammu in an Army helicopter taking death toll to four. Two other injured were, however, airlifted to the GMC Jammu while rest of the four injured are being treated in the GMC Rajouri.
Additional Director General of Police, Jammu Zone, Mukesh Singh said police, along with the Army and the CRPF, have launched a massive search operation to nab the two “armed men” behind the attack at Upper Dhangri village.
“Firing took place at three houses, separated at a distance of around 50 metres from each other,” Singh said.
GMC Rajouri Principal Dr Amarjit Bhatia told the Excelsior that three civilians had died on spot while the fourth one succumbed to the injuries while being airlifted to Jammu. He said two injured have been airlifted to Jammu while four civilians with bullet wounds are being treated in the GMC Rajouri.
Injured admitted in the GMC Rajouri are responding to the treatment, he added.
Dheeraj Sharma, Sarpanch of village Dhangri told the Excelsior on telephone that the militants suddenly appeared from the surrounding forests and targeted three houses of minority community. It seems they were aware that the village is dominated by the minority community and opened firing on their houses, he said, adding the possibility that they had conducted recce of the village can’t be ruled out.
Sharma said there was a Village Defence Committee (VDC) in the area but police had taken away weapons of those VDC members who were above 60 and didn’t replace them with others. It is clear case of negligence on part of Rajouri Police, he added.
Harish Bharti, a BJYM leader of the area said it was a targeted attack on the minorities.
Quick Reaction Teams from Army, CRPF, SOG and Police immediately rushed to village Dhangri and cordoned off the area. However, by then, the militants had managed to escape taking cover of darkness. Security personnel continued searches in the area even during night hours but there was no contact with the militants when reports last were received.
The deceased have been identified as Pritam Sharma, 56, son of Lal Chand and his 33-year-old son Ashish Kumar, Deepak Kumar, 23, son of Rajinder Kumar, a PHE employee and Sheetal Kumar, 48, son of Sat Pal, all residents of Upper Dhangri.
Injured airlifted to the GMC Jammu are Rohit Pandit, 35, son of Gopal Dass and Shubam Sharma, 20, son of Pritam Sharma. Four injured admitted in the GMC Rajouri are Pawan Kumar, 38, son of Sat Pal, Saroj Bala, 35, wife of Sheetal Kumar, Sushil Kumar, 40, son of Kundal Lal and Urishi Sharma, 17, daughter of Sheetal Kumar.
Medical Superintendent of GMC Rajouri, Dr Mehmood said the injured have multiple bullet wounds.
Meanwhile, the Sanatan Dharma Sabha, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Beopar Mandal, Bajrang Dal and various other organizations have given a call for bandh in Rajouri tomorrow to protest against the killings.
Massive protests continued outside the GMC Rajouri by people from Dhangri, Rajouri and other areas in protest against the killings with highly agitated people blaming Rajouri police for spread of militancy in the border district. The officers were trying to persuade the people but they too had to face hostile crowd.
LG monitoring situation
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has been constantly monitoring situation in Rajouri district.
He is in touch with senior officers of security forces and police besides district administration of Rajouri.
Sinha directed for immediate airlifting of seriously injured civilians from Rajouri to Jammu for providing them best medicare facilities.
Major terror attacks in Rajouri in 2022
* 4 blasts took place in Kandi Koteranka belt of Budhal in Rajouri district in March-April, 2022 targeting Police Station and non-local labourers among others. However, the blasts were worked out by police with the arrest of Lashkar-e-Toiba’s top commander Talib Hussain Shah and his associates from village Tuksan in Mahore tehsil of Reasi district later.
* Five Army soldiers were martyred while two fidayeen were killed after attack on Army camp at village Pargal in Darhal area of Rajouri on August 11, 2022.
* Two civilians were killed outside an Army Gate in Rajouri on December 16, 2022.
* Prior to 2022 also, the militants had thrown grenade on a BJP leader’s house in Rajouri town on August 13, 2021 in which an infant was killed and seven others were injured.
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