Amid terror link claims, LG orders probe in J&K deaths

Deeply shocked and saddened by the barbaric murder of three innocent civilians, including a minor boy, in Kathua. OMAR ABDULLAH, CM

- HT Correspondent

JAMMU: Jammu & Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha ordered a "thorough and transparent" investigation into the death of three civilians in Kathua district on Sunday, hours after Union minister Jitendra Singh alleged involvement of terrorists and a "deep conspiracy" into the matter.

The bodies of three civilians — Varun Singh (15), his paternal uncle Yogesh Singh (32), and maternal uncle Darshan Singh (40) — were recovered from a river flowing through Inchhu forests in Malhar area of Kathua district on Saturday evening.

The three residents were reported missing on the evening of March 5, hours after they left their house to attend a wedding ceremony.

"Investigation is underway and all angles are being probed," Kathua district senior superintendent of police (SSP) Shobhit Saxena said.

A police officer aware of the matter said that no visible marks of injury were found on the bodies. "Cause of death will only be known after the post-mortem examination has been conducted," the officer further said.