Brutal Murder of Jammu Police Officer Linked to Family Land Dispute
Tragic Incident in Kishtwar District
A shocking murder case has emerged from Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir, where a 55-year-old Special Police Officer (SPO) was allegedly killed in a brutal manner. Reports indicate that the victim's cousin and his son attacked him with an iron rod over a longstanding land dispute, subsequently filling his mouth with stones and dirt before burying him alive in a pit. The police have arrested both suspects in connection with this heinous crime. Initial investigations suggest that the murder stemmed from an old family feud regarding land, which had previously been resolved, leaving the victim's family in disbelief over the tragic outcome.
Details of the Victim
The deceased has been identified as Bashir Ahmed, who served as a Special Police Officer in Jammu and Kashmir. He resided with his family in the terrorism-affected Trigam village of Kishtwar district. On the evening of October 14, Bashir left home for duty with his service rifle, stationed about 800 meters away in a forested area. He was scheduled for a nearly 12-hour shift and typically returned home between 6:00 and 6:30 AM the following morning. However, when he failed to return on October 15, his family grew increasingly worried.
Family's Growing Concern
Bashir's wife, Parveen, aged 50, and their 15-year-old daughter, Dilshada, waited anxiously for his return. By around 8:30 AM, with no sign of him, they contacted his cousin, Ghulam Rasool. The family then went to the location of Bashir's duty, where police informed them that he had left for home around 6:30 AM. Despite the short distance, he had not arrived home.
Search Efforts Initiated
The family began searching the nearby forests, fearing he might have been attacked by a wild animal. After extensive searching yielded no results, they reported his disappearance to the Kishtwar police station. In response, police and security forces dispatched teams to search the area. Initially, authorities suspected that Bashir might have been kidnapped by terrorists, given that he was missing with his service rifle.
Crucial Clue from Mobile Phone
According to Firdaus Ahmed, the officer in charge of Kishtwar police station, despite a night-long search, no leads were found regarding Bashir's whereabouts. The family then informed the police that his mobile phone was also missing. The police tracked the phone, discovering it was being turned on and off intermittently. This information prompted a shift in the investigation's focus.
Investigation Takes a Turn
Police suspected that if Bashir had been kidnapped by terrorists, they would not risk keeping his mobile phone. Given the phone's activity and other circumstances, investigators shifted their attention from abduction to murder. They decided to conduct a thorough search along the route from Bashir's home to his duty location.
Discovery of Evidence
On the morning of October 16, during the search, police found Bashir's mobile phone in the bushes, followed by his service rifle near a stream. The discovery of these items intensified police suspicions. Upon examining the area, officers noticed freshly dug soil, and upon investigation, they uncovered Bashir's body buried beneath.
Allegations of Brutality
Following the recovery of the body, police launched a detailed investigation. It was revealed that Bashir had previously had a land dispute with his cousin, Bashir Ahmed Dar. Although the matter had been settled with the help of family members, police summoned both Bashir Ahmed Dar and his son, Nazir Ahmed Dar, for questioning.
Conflicting Statements from Suspects
Initially, both suspects denied having seen Bashir on October 15. However, when police matched their mobile phone locations, it was found that their phones were active near the area where Bashir had gone missing. This evidence led to inconsistencies in their statements, and they eventually provided information related to the incident.
Background of the Dispute
During questioning, the old land dispute resurfaced. The suspects claimed that Bashir's father, Ghulam Mustafa, had sold approximately 40 marlas of land to his brother, Abdul Aziz. After Ghulam Mustafa's death, Bashir Ahmed contested the sale, asserting that his father had not sold the land, and filed a lawsuit to reclaim it. The dispute escalated, but family intervention led to a resolution, and the land was returned to Bashir Ahmed.
The Attack
According to police investigations, on October 15, while returning home from duty, Bashir encountered Bashir Ahmed Dar and his son Nazir Ahmed Dar in the forest. Allegedly, a heated argument over the land ensued, leading Nazir to strike Bashir from behind with an iron rod. Bashir fell to the ground, bleeding from his head. The suspects then reportedly filled his mouth with stones and dirt to silence him before burying him alive in a pre-dug pit.
Family's Grief and Shock
The news of Bashir's murder has left his family devastated. His wife and daughter struggle to comprehend the brutal reality that the person they awaited was killed in such a horrific manner. A close relative, Ghulam Rasool, expressed sorrow over the incident, noting that while there had been a land dispute, it had been resolved, and no one anticipated such a tragic outcome.
Legal Proceedings Underway
Currently, police have arrested Bashir Ahmed Dar and his son Nazir Ahmed Dar. Legal actions and further investigations are ongoing. What began as a missing person case has escalated into a shocking murder investigation, revealing the dark consequences of a family land dispute that has shaken the entire community.