Jammu : Two minor cousins were killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off in a village in Rajouri area on Monday, 14 hours after a firing incident in which four people including a father-son duo were killed and six others were injured.
This morning a minor boy was killed and several people were injured, one of them critically, in an explosion outside the house of Rajender Kumar whose son Deepak Kumar was among the four people killed in yesterday’s firing incident. In all nine people were injured in the explosion and one of them, a 5-year-old boy Vihan Kumar Sharma, died before being admitted to the hospital, they said.
Samiksa (16) daughter of Koushal Kumar succumbed to injuries at GMC Rajouri this afternoon, a senior doctor told GNS. He said presently 13 injured people are admitted to hospital including four wounded in yesterday’s firing incident.
The explosion, suspected to be IED, took place around 0945 hours, they added.
“A blast occurred near the house of the victim of yesterday’s firing incident in Rajouri’s Upper Dangri village,” ADGP Mukesh Singh said, adding, “One child has succumbed to injuries. Five persons injured, one critical. Another suspected IED was spotted which is being cleared.” Later the girl was injured, taking the toll to 2.
Four people including a father-son duo were killed in Upper Dhangri area of Rajouri district in a firing incident by unknown gunmen last evening. They have been identified as Pritam Sharma (56) and his 33-year-old son Ashish Kumar, Deepak Kumar (23), a PHE employee, and Sheetal Kumar (48).
Six persons were injured in the attack and among them two, Rohit Pandit (35) and Shubam Sharma (20) son of Pritam Sharma, were airlifted to the GMC Jammu. Four injured were admitted in the GMC Rajouri and include Pawan Kumar (38), Saroj Bala (35) wife of Sheetal Kumar, Sushil Kumar (40) son of Kundal Lal and Urishi Sharma (17) daughter of Sheetal Kumar.
Meanwhile people in Rajouri district held day-long protest since early morning and kept bodies of six persons on the road. They refuse to carry out last rites until Lieutenant Governor meets them and fulfil demands. Later the Lieutenant Governor met the protesters.
“I have heard several people among you. It is a commitment of the government of India to stamp out (militancy) from Jammu and Kashmir,” he told the protesters.
The LG was accompanied by Director General of Police Dilbag Singh J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina.
“Your feelings will be fully respected,” the LG told the protesting people, who raised questions on the security situation in Rajouri and also said the withdrawal of weapons from Village Defence Committees (VDCs) have made them an “easy prey” to militants.
He said there is no compensation to these deaths. “It is a grave loss to the families. What you told me (about security lapses and measures), I promise you we will go into the depth of the matter. Whatever strong and necessary action is needed will be taken.”
Expressing sympathies with the families, the Sinha said he had come to express his condolence and share their grief. “I and my administration are with these families in stamping out terrorism in J&K. Whatever is to be done, will be done for the families.” (GNS)