Synopsis
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh expressed deep concern over the recent killing of three missing civilians in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, hinting at a broader conspiracy aimed at destabilizing the region's peace. The Union Home Secretary is set to assess the situation directly, with high-level security meetings scheduled to address the alarming trend.Key Takeaways
- Three civilians from Kathua district were killed by terrorists.
- Dr Jitendra Singh emphasized a deep conspiracy behind these acts.
- Union Home Secretary is visiting Jammu for an on-ground assessment.
- High-ranking officials are convening to discuss security measures.
- Missing person cases now prioritizing terror angles.
Jammu, March 9 (NationPress) Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh stated on Sunday that three missing individuals from Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district have tragically been killed by terrorists, raising serious alarm. The Minister of State (PMO) shared on X in Hindi (translated as), “The brutal killing of three youths by terrorists in the Bani region of district #Kathua is profoundly saddening and a matter of significant concern. It appears there is a deep conspiracy aimed at disrupting the tranquility of this peaceful area. We have discussed this issue with relevant officials. The Union Home Secretary is personally visiting Jammu to assess the situation on-site. I am optimistic that such incidents will not recur and that public confidence will remain strong.”
The remains of three civilians, who had been reported missing from Kathua district, were discovered by security forces on Saturday.
Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan is set to arrive in Jammu on Sunday to evaluate the security conditions in the union territory, with a focus on achieving a terror-free Jammu division.
Senior officials from the Intelligence Bureau, BSF, CRPF, J&K Police, and UT intelligence, along with high-ranking members of the UT administration, will be participating in this meeting.
According to officials, the bodies of three Hindu civilians, who had disappeared from Kathua district on Thursday, were located in the higher regions of Billawar.
The three individuals had gone missing in the Lohai Malhar area of Kathua after departing for a wedding in the Billawar region on Thursday.
Local residents reported that the civilians vanished around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday while a wedding party was traveling from Dehota village of Billawar to Surag village of Lohai Malhar.
The missing individuals were identified as 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 in Billawar Tehsil.
A BJP MLA raised the issue of the three missing civilians in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Friday, seeking a response from the government.
It is important to note that due to the ongoing security concerns in Jammu and Kashmir, alarm bells are triggered whenever a civilian goes missing. In the past, many youths who seemed uninvolved in terrorism have disappeared and were later found to be involved with terrorists or discovered dead.
Consequently, the first priority for police and security personnel in missing person cases is to determine whether there is a terror angle involved in such disappearances.
Earlier in February, three civilians also went missing from the Kulgam district in the Kashmir Division.
These individuals were likewise en route to a wedding when they disappeared. Family members mentioned that the trio—Reyaz Ahmad and Showkat Ahmad of Chandian Pajan and Mukhtar Ahmad of Pratap Pora Lammer—vanished on the evening of February 13 after leaving their residences to attend a wedding at their maternal uncle’s house in Ashmuji Bhan, Kulgam.
Despite reaching out to all relatives and friends, the families have been unable to locate their whereabouts. “We have filed a missing report at the Qazigund Police Station,” they stated, urging anyone with information to come forward.
