Udhampur, Sep 15: A Village Defence Guard (VDG) member sustained a gunshot injury after his rifle accidentally discharged in the Majalta area of Udhampur district on Tuesday, officials said.
The injured VDG member was identified as Parshotam Lal, a resident of Chore Panjian in Majalta. Officials said the accidental discharge caused a gunshot wound to his abdomen.
Lal was shifted to a hospital for treatment. His condition was not immediately available in the initial reports, while police have started an investigation to ascertain the circumstances that led to the accidental firing.
The incident comes against the backdrop of heightened security activity in and around the Majalta belt, where security forces have previously conducted searches following reports of suspicious movement in forested and adjoining areas.
In August, joint teams of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF conducted searches in and around Talot and Khuban after reports of suspicious movement. Security forces also carried out operations in other parts of Udhampur and neighbouring districts as part of efforts to verify such inputs and maintain surveillance.
Security preparedness in the Majalta area has also been reviewed by senior police officers. During a security review earlier this year, the DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range directed forces to intensify long- and short-range patrols, cordon-and-search operations, night domination and activation of Village Defence Guards in vulnerable areas.
The latest incident, however, has been described by officials as an accidental discharge, and there was no immediate indication that the firing was connected to any ongoing security operation. [KNT]
