The Modi-led Indian government has decided to expand the network of notorious gang of killers, Village Defence Guards, to the entire illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir to target pro-freedom civilian population.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the dreaded gang, previously known as Village Defence Committees, was launched by Indian Army in 1995 in Jammu to eliminate the sympathizers of Kashmir freedom movement from the region.

The Village Defence Guards will be recruited, trained and armed by the Indian army to instill a sense of fear among public through deaths and destruction.

In a statement, APHC leaders Zamruda Habib, Yasmeen Raja and Abdul Ahad Parra has expressed concern over the plight of illegally detained Hurriyat leaders and activists and demanded their immediate release.

On the other hand, Jammu and Kashmir Muslim League in a statement in Srinagar strongly denounced the arrest of dozens of youth including party leader Irshad Ahmad in Handwara area of Kupwara district.

At least six personnel of Indian border police were killed and 33 others injured when a bus carrying them fell into a deep gorge in Pahalgam area of Islamabad district. The bus was on its way from Chandanwari to Srinagar.

Meanwhile, the release of 11 Hindus convicted on charges of gang-rape of a Muslim woman, Bilkis Bano, and murder of her seven family members during 2002 anti-Muslim riots in the Indian state of Gujarat has shocked Muslims in India and Kashmir.

Source: Radio Pakistan