J&K's Rajouri Village's Death Toll Rises To 7 As Injured Dies In Hospital, 18 Suspects Detained So Far

The death toll of twin terrorist acts in Dhangri village in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri rose to seven as another injured person succumbed to injuries.

Prince Sharma died at the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital Jammu on Sunday, said officials. He was in his early 20s. 

On January 1, terrorists fired at houses in Dhangri in which four people were killed and several others were injured. Prince was criticlly injured in the attack and was in hospital. 

On January 2, within mere 14 hours of the firing, an IED blast in Dhangri village killed two children and injured several others. The IED exploded near the houses of one of the victims of the firing attack the previous day.

The five persons killed on the January 1 attack are identified as Satish Kumar (45), Deepak Kumar (23), Pritam Lal (57), Shishu Pal (32), and Prince Sharma.  The IED exploded the next day near Pritam's house. Prince is the younger brother of Deepak.

Two persons killed in the IED blast on January 2 are identified as Vihan Sharma (04) and Samiksha Sharma (16). The two of them were cousins.

The IED was planted by the terrorists on January 1 before they fled the scene. The police said the IED was planted under a bag. 

18 suspects held, vital leads secured: Officials

Officials on Saturday said at least 18 suspects have been detained over the Dhangri attack and "some vital leads" have been secured.

An official told PTI, "The investigation of the terror attack is going in the right direction. So far, a dozen-and-a-half suspects, including some women, have been detained for questioning.Some vital leads have been found that suggest the presence of terrorists in some villages near Rajouri town."

Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Jammu zone Mukesh Singh is monitoring the investigation, which is being conducted by senior officers under the supervision of the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Rajouri-Poonch range Haseeb Mughal.

"We have received some vital leads and are working on those to crack the case. An operation is on to neutralise the terrorists involved in the attack," the officer said, refusing to divulge any further details.

A search operation has been launched by multiple security agencies, such as the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Indian Army, but there not been any contact with terrorists so far. 

Outrage over security lapse 

There is outrage in the Dhangri village over the security lapse that led to the IED blst on January 2. 

It's alleged that security agencies who descended upon the village on January 1 after the firing and swept the area failed to detect the IED. It's alleged IED exploded the next day as the agencies could not detect it.

Village Sarpanch Deepak Kumar earlier said that it was a serious security lapse on the part of police and other agencies.

"It is a serious security lapse by agencies. Minority community people do not feel secure. The administration should take tough measures," he told reporters in Rajouri.

Dhangri attack a reminder of previous massacres

The seven killings within 14 hours in Dhangri village have created a fear psychosis and a wave of insecurity in J&K's minority Hindu community.

The Dhangri killings have also resurfaced the memories of Bal Jarallan massacre in 1999.

On February 19, 1999, terrorists entered a marriage hall in Bal Jarallan village and killed seven people and injured another seven. All those killed were from the minority community. The village is just four kms from the Dhangri village.

Dalip Singh, a resident of Dhangri, said the latest incident had opened the old wounds and caused a scare among the local populace about the revival of terrorism in the border district. 

"A number of my close relatives had gone to attend the marriage ceremony and we came to know about the incident only when the victims were being evacuated to hospital while passing in front of our homes as there were no mobile phones in J&K at that time," said Singh

Singh said although all his relatives had escaped unhurt in the attack, people from the minority community suffered a big blow as it was the first such attack on minorities in their close vicinity. 

Besides the Bal Jarallan, the other major terror attacks targeted against minorities in Rajouri district in the past include killing of seven persons in Swari village in 1997, killing of five persons in Kotedhara in 1998,  killing of three persons in Nirojal in 2002, killing of five persons in Patrara in 2003 and killing of five persons in Panglar in 2005.

Singh said, "Now this Dhangri attack has not only given a fresh wound but also created a wave of terror among the minority community."

Sanjay Kumar said the Dhangri incident is a cause for major concern as it signals the revival of terror activities in the district after it was declared terrorism free many years ago. 

"The government should take all necessary measures to rebuild the confidence of the people in the security system and track down the attackers to ensure justice to the victims," said Kumar.

(With PTI inputs)