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3 Kathua civilians were killed by terrorists, Union Minister says, claims conspiracy to spoil peace

The three people whose bodies were found had gone missing in the Malhar area of Jammu’s Kathua district on Thursday evening, when they were part of a wedding procession.

The three, Yogesh, 32, Darshan, 40, and Varun, 14, are believed to be cousins, a police officer said. They were found dead in Jammu's Malhar area.The three, Yogesh, 32, Darshan, 40, and Varun, 14, (not in picture) are believed to be cousins, a police officer said. (Express Photo)

Claiming there is a “deep conspiracy” to spoil the peaceful atmosphere in Kathua district, Union Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Jitendra Singh, said the three civilians whose bodies were found in a river in the Malhar area Saturday evening, were killed by militants.

“The brutal killing of three youths by terrorists in Bani area of district Kathua is extremely sad as well as a matter of great concern. There seems to be a deep conspiracy to spoil the peaceful atmosphere in this area,” Dr Singh posted on social media platform X.

The bodies of the civilians were found in a river flowing through Inchhu forests in Kathua district’s Malhar area on Saturday evening. The three, Yogesh, 32, Darshan, 40, and Varun, 14, are believed to be cousins, a police officer said.

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They were part of a wedding procession which was on its way from Billawar’s Dehota village to Surag village in Malhar on Thursday evening. When the procession was near Inchhu forests around 8.30 pm, they reportedly got separated from other members of the wedding party and lost their way in the darkness. On reaching Surag, some other members of the wedding party informed the local police that the three persons were missing, sources said.

Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir tweeted that he has ordered an investigation the case and assures people that the perpetrators will be held accountable soon.

Mehbooba Mufti tweeted saying the situation is “deeply alarming”.

The bodies were sighted in the river on Saturday. The cause of death is yet to be ascertained as the police parties are yet to reach the area, the police officer said.

In the post on X, Dr Singh said, “We have discussed this matter with the concerned officials. The Union Home Secretary himself is reaching Jammu so that the situation can be assessed on the spot. I am confident that it will be ensured that such incidents do not happen again and the confidence of the people remains strong.”

Sources said Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan will review the security situation with high ranking officers from police, para military and security forces during the day in Jammu.

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Meanwhile, people in Billawar town observed complete bandh and held demonstrations over the killing of civilians.

The police and para military forces have been deployed in strength in view of anger among people in the area.

MLA Bani, Dr Rameshwar Singh, who visited the sub district hospital at Billawar to meet the families of the deceased Saturday night was manhandled by a group of protestors.

Later, he told media persons that some people were trying to vitiate the atmosphere, and that he was assaulted for having raised the issue of a Gujjar youth Makhan Din who, alleging police torture to make a statement about militant links, had died by suicide.

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Rameshwar Singh said he was the only person to have raised in the Legislative Assembly the issue of the disappearance of three civilians in Malhar area, who were later found dead on Sunday.

Suspecting the three might have been kidnapped by militants, security forces and the Jammu and Kashmir Police launched searches for them, particularly since there had already been reports of militant movement in the area. This area falls in close proximity of Badnota where five soldiers were killed in a militant attack on an army convoy in July last year.

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