Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday (March 9, 2025) ordered a probe into the killing of three civilians, including a 14-year-old boy, in the upper reaches of Jammu’s Kathua district.
“I have ordered a thorough and transparent investigation and all the necessary support to the families will be provided. I assure the people that the perpetrators will be brought to book at the earliest. Justice will be ensured and accountability will be fixed,” Mr. Sinha said.
Three civilians of Kathua district, Varun Singh, Yogesh Singh and Darshan Singh, went missing on March 5 while they were returning home after attending a wedding in Billawar. On March 8, their bodies were recovered near a waterbody in the upper reaches of Billawar.
Earlier in February, two farmers were found dead in Billawar.
Also read | Kathua killings: Union Minister points to terror angle, Home Secretary reviews situation
Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday pointed to the involvement of terrorists in the killing of three civilians. The killings have sparked protests, and a shutdown in the area. The Minister said the killings were a matter of great concern.
“The brutal killing of 3 youth by terrorists in Bani area of district Kathua is extremely sad as well as a matter of great concern. There appears to be a deep conspiracy behind spoiling the atmosphere in this peaceful area,” the Minister, who represents the Udhampur parliamentary constituency that includes Kathua, said on social media platform X.
“We have discussed this matter with the officials concerned. The Union Home Secretary himself is reaching Jammu so that the situation can be assessed on the spot. I am confident it will be ensured that such incidents do not happen again and the confidence of the people remains strong,” Mr. Singh said.
Locals held protests on Sunday against the killings in Kathua district.
Rising crackdown on locals in Kathua: Mehbooba Mufti
Former J&K Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti termed the growing violence in Kathua as “deeply alarming”. She said that in a short span of time, nearly a dozen people from both Muslim and Hindu communities had lost their lives.
“Five of them were allegedly chased by the police and cow vigilantes, which led to fatal accidents. Subsequently, the bodies of two members of the Hindu community were discovered, followed by three more yesterday, including the heart-breaking case of a 14-year-old. Tragically, while the police seem more focused on extracting false confessions from victims like Makhan Din, the real perpetrators are still at large,” Ms. Mufti said.
Also read | Kathua court directs police to file FIR into man’s death
Din died by suicide in February allegedly after being tortured in police custody in a case related to militancy. Officials are yet to make public the magisterial and departmental inquiries instituted into the case.
Ms. Mufti also alleged rising crackdown on locals in Kathua this year. “Approximately 30 individuals have been charged till date, under the PSA (Public Safety Act) or UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), often with scant or no evidence. There are indications that certain disruptive elements, possibly operating both within and across the border, may be stoking communal tensions in this sensitive border district,” Ms. Mufti said.
The former J&K Chief Minister urged the authorities “to act swiftly yet judiciously to identify and bring the true culprits to justice, ensuring that peace and communal harmony is maintained”.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma on Sunday met protesters in Billawar. “The brutal killing of three people of Billawar is deeply disturbing and a matter of grave concern. A sinister conspiracy appears to be at play to disrupt peace in this tranquil region. I, and the local MLA Satish Sharma, had a detailed discussion with the relevant authorities on this issue. The preparators will be brought to justice at the earliest,” Mr. Sharma said.
Jammu’s border district of Kathua, which saw a decline in militant activities by 2019, has witnessed a sudden rise in militant movement and attacks in the past few years.
Those who require assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts may contact Sanjivini, Society for Mental Health suicide prevention helpline 011-4076 9002 (10 a.m. to 7.30 p.m., Monday-Saturday).
(With inputs from the PTI)
Published – March 09, 2025 08:57 pm IST