Army man accused of orchestrating fatal car crash that killed wife, toddler in J-K’s Rajouri

Rajouri, Aug 14: What was initially reported as a tragic road accident in the remote Lathi village of Khawas tehsil of Rajouri district has taken a chilling turn, with police suspecting that a serving Army personnel deliberately pushed the car carrying his wife and two-year-old son into a deep gorge to stage it as an accident.

The victims have been identified as Lalita Devi (25) and her young son, both residents of Bhella Khawas.

Police said the incident occurred around midnight on the Khawas–Moughla road when their vehicle (registration number 24BH5324C) plunged into a steep gorge.

Officials said they received information about the accident shortly after midnight. A rescue operation was launched, and both victims were retrieved from the mangled vehicle and shifted to the Primary Health Centre, Khawas, where they were declared dead on arrival.

However, investigations took a sharp turn when it emerged that the vehicle was being driven by Lalita Devi’s husband, Baljeet Singh, a serving soldier. Preliminary findings suggest Singh may have intentionally pushed the vehicle into the gorge.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem, and a case under relevant sections of the IPC has been registered at Kandi Police Station.

Locals in Khawas expressed shock over the incident.