Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 10: Several organizations, political leaders and other individuals today condemned the killing of three innocent civilians in Billawar area of Kathua District and demanded swift investigation into the incident to bring perpetrators to the book.
The victims, who had been missing for several days after attending a wedding ceremony, were discovered dead in the remote Malhar area on March 8.
The Jammu & Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Jammu, led by President K Nirmal Kotwal, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives.
In a meeting, the Bar members unanimously condemned the killings and extended their condolences to the bereaved families.
The Bar Association stressed the importance of a thorough investigation and urged the UT administration and police to take immediate action against those responsible for the act.
K Nirmal Kotwal emphasized that such attacks on innocent civilians were an assault on democratic values and must be universally condemned.
The Bar also called for collective action to ensure justice and maintain peace in the region.
The Chamber of Commerce & Industry, led by President Arun Gupta, also condemned the killings, describing them as a targeted attack aimed at disrupting communal harmony in the region.
Arun Gupta expressed concern over the rising number of such incidents and called for intensified anti-terror operations to neutralize terrorist elements in the area.
He stated that these attacks were part of a broader conspiracy to create fear and instability in Jammu and urged the people to resist divisive tactics while upholding the values of secularism and peaceful coexistence.
The Chamber also extended condolences to the victims’ families and observed a two-minute silence in their memory.
Senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta strongly condemned the killings, calling them a serious concern for the peace and security of the region.
He expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and assured them that the BJP stood with them in their time of grief.
Kavinder stressed that while terrorism had been largely contained in the Kashmir region, similar threats in Jammu should not be overlooked.
He called on the Government to remain vigilant and ensure that such acts of terror are prevented.
Col (Retd) Mahan Singh, Chairman of the District Development Council (DDC) Kathua, also condemned the killings and expressed his sorrow over the loss of innocent lives.
Col Mahan Singh, who attended the victims’ cremation ceremonies, reassured the community that the Government would take necessary steps to improve security in the area and emphasized the importance of development projects, including infrastructure and employment, to bolster the region’s resilience against terrorism.
Ranvijay Singh, the great-grandson of Maharaja Hari Singh, also condemned the killings and extended his condolences to the victims’ families.
He called for a thorough investigation and accountability to prevent such incidents in the future.
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