J&K teens go missing days after 3 locals found dead
What's the story
Two teenagers, Mohammad Din and Rehman Ali, have gone missing from the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir. The duo was last seen in the Rajbagh area. Their disappearance comes just days after the bodies of three local residents were found by security forces, two days after they went missing. Authorities have now launched a search operation to find the missing teens.
Previous incident
Disappearance of 3 locals raises security concerns
Three locals - Yogesh Singh (32), Darshan Singh (40), and Varun Singh (15) - had gone missing on March 5 while traveling to a wedding in Lohai Malhar. Their bodies were found on March 8 in Ishu Nallah, raising serious security concerns in the region. Union Minister Jitendra Singh says these civilians were killed by terrorists, hinting at a "deep conspiracy" to disrupt peace in the area.
Public response
Protests erupt over recent killings in Kathua
The latest killings have triggered protests throughout the district. Union Minister Jitendra Singh condemned the "brutal" act, terming it a matter of great concern. He assured an on-site assessment by the Union Home Secretary and steps to ensure such incidents don't recur. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the acts "barbaric," stressing such things had no place in society.
Regional unrest
Shutdown observed in Billawar to protest civilian deaths
Following the recent civilian deaths, a shutdown was observed in Billawar and the surrounding areas on Sunday. LG Manoj Sinha has ordered a thorough probe into these killings. Union Minister Jitendra Singh termed the incident a "brutal" act by terrorists, suggesting a "deep conspiracy" behind it. The bodies of Varun Singh and his uncles were recovered from the Ishu Nallah in the remote Malhar area, three days after they went missing.