Day curfew lifted in Kishtwar, search on for those who snatched rifle

Jammu, September 14

Day curfew was lifted in Kishtwar district even as a search operation for suspected militants, who snatched the service rifle from the personal security officer (PSO) of a PDP leader, continued for the second day on Saturday, officials said.

The day curfew, which was imposed in the town following the weapon-snatching incident on Friday, was lifted but all educational institutes remained closed as a precautionary measure, the officials said.

A group of militants struck the house of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kishtwar district president Sheikh Nasir Hussain at Gourian village and escaped with the service rifle of his PSO.

“The curfew, which was imposed following the incident, was lifted on Saturday morning. However, all educational institutes in the town have been closed,” Deputy Commissioner Angrez Singh Rana told PTI.

He said the night curfew, however, would remain in force.

A search operation to track down the militants was on, Rana said, adding that the police were working on various leads and the culprits would be brought to book soon.

Officials said additional police and paramilitary forces had been deployed at entry and exit points in the town, where all incoming and outgoing vehicles were being subjected to a thorough check.

They said the private car of the PDP leader’s brother in which the suspects fled was found abandoned at Dool village, 9 km from the town.

The hilly district, which was declared terrorism-free over a decade ago, has witnessed a number of terror strikes and weapon snatching incidents over the past 10 months. PTI