Three Civilians Reported Missing in Kathua, J&K; Security Forces Initiate Search Efforts
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Synopsis
A major search operation has been initiated by the Army and police in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district to find three missing civilians. The individuals vanished while traveling to a wedding, prompting concerns about their safety amid the area's prevailing security issues.
Key Takeaways
- Army and police are searching for three missing civilians.
- Individuals disappeared while attending a wedding in Kathua.
- Authorities have ruled out terrorism as a factor in the case.
- Local MLA raised the issue in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
- Previous cases of missing civilians have raised alarm in the region.
Jammu, March 7 (NationPress) The Army and police commenced a significant search operation on Friday to locate three civilians who disappeared while en route to a wedding in Kathua district, Jammu and Kashmir.
Authorities confirmed that a large-scale search is currently taking place in the Lohai Malhar region of Kathua, where the individuals were last seen.
"A joint effort involving the Army and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the J&K Police has been initiated to find the missing civilians," officials reported.
The three missing persons vanished in the Lohai Malhar area after departing their home to attend a wedding in the Billawar locality. Over 24 hours have passed since their disappearance, with the Jammu and Kashmir Police reporting no leads.
So far, authorities have eliminated any potential terrorism link in their investigation. Local residents noted that the three individuals went missing around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday while traveling from Dehota village in Billawar to Surag village in Lohai Malhar for the marriage.
The missing individuals have been 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 in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, requesting government clarification regarding the three missing civilians.
At the start of the Assembly session, BJP member Satesh Sharma brought up the matter, informing the House of the situation in the Lohai Malhar area of Billawar constituency. "We seek answers from the government concerning the missing civilians," Sharma stated.
In response, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather indicated that the Question Hour had commenced and suggested addressing the matter later.
Given the current security climate in Jammu and Kashmir, alarm bells are triggered whenever civilians go missing. Historically, numerous youths, seemingly disconnected from terrorism, have vanished, only to be later discovered among terrorist ranks.
This reality necessitates that the police and security forces first rule out any potential links to terrorism in such missing person cases.
Notably, three civilians went missing in February from the Kulgam district of the Kashmir Division under similar circumstances. They were also headed to a wedding when they disappeared. Three individuals from the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities have been missing for three days in the Qazigund area of Kulgam.
Family members reported that the trio—Reyaz Ahmad and Showkat Ahmad from Chandian Pajan, and Mukhtar Ahmad from Pratap Pora Lammer—went missing on February 13 after leaving for a wedding at their maternal uncle’s residence in Ashmuji Bhan, Kulgam.
Despite reaching out to all relatives and friends, families remain unable to locate them. "We have filed a missing report at the Qazigund Police Station," they stated, appealing for any information regarding their loved ones.
