Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday described the situation in Kathua in Jammu division "deeply alarming" and stated that certain disruptive elements operating both within and across the border may be stoking communal tensions in this sensitive district.
Three persons Jogesh Singh (35) a resident of Marhoon, Darshan Singh (40), Baroon Singh (14), both residents of Dehota Billawar, went missing after they had gone to attend a marriage party on March 7 went missing, and their bodies were recovered from the upper reaches of Billawar on Saturday.
"The situation in Kathua is deeply alarming. In a short span of time nearly a dozen people from both the Muslim & Hindu communities have lost their lives. Five of them were allegedly chased by police and cow vigilantes, which led to fatal accidents. Subsequently, the bodies of two members of the Hindu community were discovered, followed by three more yesterday, including the heartbreaking case of a fourteen-year-old, "Mufti said in a post on X.
"Tragically, while the police seem more focused on extracting false confessions from victims like Makhan Din, the real perpetrators are still at large. Approximately 30 individuals have been charged to date under the PSA or UAPA, often with scant or no evidence. There are indications that certain disruptive elements possibly operating both within & across the border may be stoking communal tensions in this sensitive border district. The authorities must act swiftly yet judiciously to identity and bring the true culprits to justice, ensuring that peace and communal harmony is maintained," she added.
