Mehbooba Mufti, Sajad Lone condemn Kathua killings, urge authorities to bring culprits to justice

Srinagar, Mar 09: Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti and J&K Peoples’ Conference (JKPC) president Sajad Gani Lone today condemned killings of three youth in Jammu & Kashmir’s Kathua. The leaders urged authorities to bring real culprits to justice.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti in a post on X said: “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 Hindu community were discovered followed by three more yesterday including the heartbreaking case of a fourteen year old”.

“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 till date, under the PSA or UAPA often with scant or no evidence,” she said on X.

She added, “There are indications that certain disruptive elements possibly operating both within & across the border maybe 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”.

J&K Peoples’ Conference (JKPC) president Sajad Gani Lone also condemned the incident.

“Condemn the killing of three persons in a Bhilawar. It is tragic that these senseless killings continue to persist. Hope the police hunts down the perpetrators. May they rest in peace,” Lone said on X.