Incident Sparks Protest, Congress Demands High-Level Probe
The bodies of a teenager and two of his relatives, who had gone missing during a family event three days ago, were recovered near a waterfall in the remote Malhar area of Kathua district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Saturday.
Varun Singh, 15, from Dehota village, his uncle Yogesh Singh, 32, and maternal uncle Darshan Singh, 40, were found deceased near Ishu nullah following an extensive joint search operation by Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Indian Army. Authorities located the victims using drones due to the challenging and steep terrain.
The police have initially ruled out terrorism, noting no visible injuries on the bodies. The exact cause of death, however, will be confirmed only after a detailed postmortem examination. According to a statement by Jammu and Kashmir Police, a panel of doctors has been constituted to carry out the postmortem.
Family Disappeared After Losing Way to Wedding Venue
According to officials, the three had left their home on March 5 around 5:30 pm, ahead of the wedding of Darshan's brother, Brijesh Singh, in Lohai Malhar village of Billawar tehsil. The family received the last communication around 8:30 pm when Darshan informed them they had lost their way. The trio never reached their destination, prompting a missing persons report at Malhar Police Station on March 6, which led to a large-scale search operation involving the Army, CRPF, Special Operations Group, and Village Defence Guards.
MLA Rameshwar Singh Faces Protest, Vows Continued Advocacy
Independent MLA Rameshwar Singh, representing the Bani Assembly constituency, visited the local hospital to meet with family members of the deceased. However, he faced protests and heckling, compelling security personnel to intervene and escort him away.
Singh alleged the incident was an attempt to disturb communal harmony. He linked the hostility to his previous advocacy for Makhan Din, a 25-year-old Gujjar youth from Billawar, who committed suicide after alleged police harassment over suspected terror links.
"Has speaking for a Muslim become a sin?" Singh questioned, reiterating that he would continue to advocate for victims regardless of their religion.
Congress Urges Investigation to Address Local Apprehensions
Reacting strongly to both recent incidents in Billawar, the Jammu and Kashmir Congress demanded an impartial, high-level inquiry to establish facts and reassure locals concerned about security.
Expressing deep concern over what it described as "worrisome security and law and order situation," the Congress party appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor administration and central authorities to restore normalcy and confidence among residents.
Congress President for Jammu and Kashmir, Tariq Hameed Karra, along with senior party leaders, expressed condolences to the bereaved families and emphasized the urgent need for proactive measures to dispel the prevailing fear and insecurity gripping the region.
Earlier in February, two other villagers, Shamsher, 37, and Roshan, 45, were found strangled to death in the same area, highlighting the tense security atmosphere.
BJP legislator from Billawar, Satesh Sharma, had previously raised concerns regarding the missing individuals in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, seeking clarity from the administration on the matter.
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