Mar 9: The Kathua town erupted in protests today against the killing of three unarmed civilians by terrorists in block Malhar of Billawar tehsil in Kathua district on Saturday, with locals demanding deployment of Army in the upper reaches of the district to flush out the hiding terrorists.
The three victims—Jogesh Singh (35) of Marhoom, Darshan Singh (40) and Varun Singh (14) of Dehota, Billawar—had gone missing on March 5 after attending a marriage party in Lohai Malhar. Three days later, their bodies were found from Ishu Nallah in block Malhar on March 8.
While Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Police, Jammu-Samba-Kathua (JSK) Range, Shiv Kumar Sharma, assured the protestors that the police will make concerted efforts to further strengthen the security grid in the affected areas with the induction of more Village Defence Guards (VDGs) equipped with semi-automatic weapons, he also committed to intensify the ongoing anti-terrorist operations.
The police officer also claimed that the VDGs will be provided with the advanced trainings by police, SOG, Army, and CRPF to handle the anti-terrorist operations in these areas.
Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased youth were handed over to their family members after their post-mortem was conducted by a panel of five doctors at Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Billawar. The cremation, however, is set to take place tomorrow in their native places.
In Kathua town, the protestors, comprising local residents, political leaders, and members of various organizations blocked the National Highway at Kalibari and burned the effigies of Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif.
Raising anti-Pakistan slogans, they criticized the neighbouring nation for continuously harbouring terrorists and using them against innocent civilians in India. They also called for the immediate deployment of the Army in the upper reaches of the district to flush out the hiding terrorists.
In Billawar, Bani and Basohli areas, the protestors took to the streets in large numbers, demanding justice for the victims.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other political groups, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), also joined the protests, criticizing the police administration for failing to control the increasing terrorism in the region.
BJP leaders, including MLAs Sunil Sharma, Rajiv Jasrotia, Vijay Sharma and Satish Sharma, condemned the killings and promised to take up the matter with the Central Government.
Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma assured the public that the Government was committed to taking action against the perpetrators and restoring peace in the region.
He claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had discussed the situation in Kathua with him and assured that the perpetrators would be brought to justice soon.
The protestors also accused the terrorists of using local Over-Ground workers (OGWs) to target particular community members selectively.
They demanded stern action against those who were responsible for aiding and abetting these militants.
BJP general secretary Sunil Sharma also met with the grieving families of the victims.
He called for a transparent and thorough investigation into the incident, suggesting that the recent killings could be part of a “broader conspiracy” to revive militancy in the region.
He also emphasized the importance of heightened surveillance and stronger security measures in areas like Billawar, Bani, Basohli, Doda, and Kishtwar, where militant activities have increased in recent months.
In response to the protests, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, JSK Range, Shiv Kumar Sharma, camped in Billawar and assured the locals that the police would take all necessary measures to ensure security in the area.
He stated that more Village Defence Guards (VDGs) would be inducted into the affected areas, equipped with semi-automatic weapons, to help tackle the growing threat of terrorism.
He also emphasized that these guards would receive training from the police, Special Operations Group (SOG), Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to be better prepared to handle anti-terrorism operations.
Sharma also visited the families of the deceased and expressed his condolences.
He reassured them that the police, along with the Army, would continue joint operations to track down the terrorists responsible for the killings. On his assurance, the protests were called off.
Later, the bodies of the victims were handed over to their families after being examined by a panel of five doctors at the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Billawar.
The victims’ cremation is set to take place tomorrow in their native villages as it couldn’t be done today due to sunset.
