Search Operations Underway for Three Missing Civilians in Kathua, J&K

Synopsis

A major search operation has been initiated by the Army and police in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district to locate three civilians missing since Thursday evening while en route to a wedding. Efforts are focused in the Lohai Malhar area, and authorities have ruled out any terrorism angle. Local officials are working to gather further information.

Key Takeaways

Major search operation launched in Kathua, J&K.
Three civilians missing while attending a wedding.
Over 24 hours without leads on their whereabouts.
Authorities rule out terrorism connections.
Previous incidents of missing civilians raise concerns.

Jammu, March 7 (NationPress) The Army and police commenced a significant search operation on Friday to locate three civilians who have gone missing while heading to a wedding in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district.

Officials reported that an extensive search effort is currently active in the Lohai Malhar area of Kathua, where the three individuals have disappeared.

“The Army and the special operations group (SOG) of J&K Police have initiated a collaborative manhunt to find the missing civilians,” officials disclosed.

The trio went missing in the Lohai Malhar area after departing from home to attend a wedding in the Billawar region. After a full day of their disappearance, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have yet to uncover any leads regarding their location.

Nonetheless, the police have excluded any potential terrorism angle in their ongoing investigation. Local residents mentioned that the three civilians were last seen around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday as a wedding procession traveled from the Dehota village of Billawar to the Surag village in Lohai Malhar.

The individuals reported missing include 35-year-old Jogesh Singh from Marhoon village, 40-year-old Darshan Singh from Dehota village, and 14-year-old Baroon Singh from Dehota village of Billawar Tehsil.

On Friday, a BJP MLA addressed the issue of the missing civilians in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, seeking a government response.

As the Assembly session began, BJP member Satesh Sharma raised a point of order regarding the missing civilians in Lohai Malhar, stating, “I wish to bring to your attention the case of the three missing civilians. We seek answers from the government.”

In reply, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather noted that the Question Hour had commenced and suggested discussing the issue later.

It is crucial to note that the ongoing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir raises alarms whenever a civilian is reported missing. Historically, many youths with no known ties to terrorism have vanished, only to be later discovered to have joined militant groups.

This is why the police and security forces prioritize ruling out any terrorism links in cases of missing persons.

It should also be highlighted that three civilians previously went missing in February from the Kulgam district of the Kashmir Division. These individuals were also en route to a wedding when they disappeared. Three Gujjar and Bakerwal men have been unaccounted for in the Qazigund area of Kulgam district for the past three days.

According to family members, the trio -- Reyaz Ahmad and Showkat Ahmad from Chandian Pajan and Mukhtar Ahmad from Pratap Pora Lammer -- vanished on the evening of February 13 while on their way to a wedding at their maternal uncle’s residence in Ashmuji Bhan, Kulgam.

Despite reaching out to all relatives and acquaintances, the families have failed to locate them. “We have filed a missing report at the Qazigund Police Station,” they stated, urging anyone with information to contact the families.