Deaths of 2 men in Kathua being probed: CM Omar

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the mysterious deaths and said he has asked the officers concerned to probe the matter.

The victims, Shamsher (37) and Roshan (45), both residents of Kohag village, were reported missing by their families before their bodies were discovered in a field in Bathari village on Sunday morning. Locals who spotted the bodies alerted the police, who arrived at the scene and sent them for post-mortem examination. Initial reports suggest the victims were not carrying mobile phones at the time of their deaths.

Expressing concern over the incident, Omar took to X, stating, “Deeply anguished by the tragic death of two persons in Kathua. My thoughts and prayers are with their families during this difficult time. My office is in touch with the local MLA, and the officers concerned have been asked to investigate the cause of these deaths.”

According to the police, strangulation marks were found on the bodies, pointing towards murder. A case under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered at Billawar Police Station, and investigations are underway. Given the past movements of militants in the area, locals suspect the victims may have been abducted and later killed by terrorists.

Confirming that a forensic team and a dog squad have been deployed to aid the investigation, BJP MLA from Billawar, Satish Kumar Sharma, stressed the need for a thorough probe. “Security forces are conducting search operations in the area to determine if there was any terrorist involvement,” he told The Tribune.

Sharma also announced that Rs 1 lakh in relief had been provided to the victims’ families through the Red Cross. He further stated that if the case is confirmed as an act of terrorism, he would push for a government job for one of the bereaved family members. “We need to give the police time to investigate so that we can determine whether this was a terror attack or if there is another angle to the murders,” he added.

As the probe continues, fear and speculation persist in the region, with locals urging authorities to bring clarity to the case and ensure their safety.