Mysterious Killings in Kathua

The gruesome killing of three people in Billawar area of Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir has sent shock waves in the Union Territory (UT).Dead bodies of three people were recovered from a river that flows through the Inchhu forest in Malhar area of Jammu’s Kathua district. These mysterious killings have led to many speculations and people are rightly enraged. Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh had claimed on Sunday that these killings were undertaken by terrorists as a part of the conspiracy to vitiate the atmosphere. So far no official statement has been released by the police citing the cause of this incident. Though the post mortem has been done. It is pertinent to mention that these three people had arrived to attend the marriage but had gone missing from the marriage entourage. Their disappearance had caused many speculations in the area. Police and security forces had launched massive search operations, suspecting that the trio may have been kidnapped by the terrorists. The needle of suspicion has turned towards the terrorists. The reason being that so far four incidents of terror have been orchestrated by them in one year. They are supposed to be operating from the forest cover in the Kathua district. On 8th July, 2024, four army personnel were martyred in a terrorist attack. In the same year a CRPF jawan was also martyred by these terrorists. Besides these incidents, on 11th July 2024, a terrorist had given a slip after indulging in firing in the Billawar area that has again emerged as the focus of attention due to the mysterious deaths of three people. What is adding to the speculation that these three victims have been killed by the terrorists is that all of them are the relatives of an army jawan. Most of the incidents that have taken place in and around Kathua were meant to target the security personnel. From quite some time the theatre of war has been shifted by the terror operatives to Jammu and its adjoining areas. There are two reasons for this tactical shift by terrorists. One that there has been an enormous focus to squeeze the terror modules in Kashmir valley after the neutralisation of Article 370 and 35 A. Another reason that can be ascribed this new tactical shift on the part of the patrons of terror who are being handled from across the border in Pakistan is that in order to show their extended sphere of influence in entire Jammu and Kashmir terrorist networks want to show their presence in Jammu as to send the message that they are holding the ground on this side of the Pir Panjal as well. Successful Lok Sabha Elections and then the fruitful Assembly Elections after a decade that led to the government formation has unnerved the patrons of terror. In both the cases the security grid needs to change the operational tactics. So that these incidents don’t become a routine and lead to fear among the common masses. The Kathua killings have shaken the masses and led to fear that can have tremendous impact on the social set up .The pictures of the innocent people who have been killed in mysterious circumstances raise serious questions. The pictures that are making rounds in the media show that clothes worn by these unfortunate people were take-off. As one of the victims is wearing a pants in reverse manner, while the shirt of another victim has been taken out and the pants of the third victim has also been taken off. It is being assumed to be a case of targeted killings to inject fear among the locals. While writing this editorial, there are reports that two minors are missing from the last twelve days in Kathua. This is really a matter of concern. Kathua is surely on the radar of the forces who want to disrupt the social harmony and peace. Both police and civil administration must swing into action and devise a methodology to nab the culprits and start combing operations to nip the bigger disaster in the bud. Meanwhile, the civil society in Kathua must maintain peace and vigil. Every effort must be made to thwart the evil intentions of the patrons of terror to disrupt the social harmony.