KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Nov 12: In a stunning breakthrough, the Kargil Police have solved a haunting 26-year-old quadruple murder case, bringing long-awaited justice to the families of four men who mysteriously disappeared in 1998. The arrests were made in Kathua, ending decades of uncertainty surrounding the brutal crime.
The chilling case dates back to October 7, 1998, when Bashir Ahmad of Tangole reported that his brother, Mohd Ali, along with three companions—Haji Anayat Ali from Karghi, Shero Ali from Kathua, and Nazir Ahmad—had vanished after setting out for Wardwan to purchase livestock. Despite exhaustive search efforts, the men were never found, leaving investigators and loved ones in the dark.
Initial investigations quickly identified a group of suspects, who were detained on April 25, 1999, in Khati Talab, Jammu. However, due to a lack of conclusive evidence, the suspects were released on bail, and the case remained unsolved. In 2007, after nearly a decade without new leads, authorities closed the case as “untraced.”
Years later, a breakthrough came in September 2011 when skeletal remains were discovered near the Kanital Glacier. Forensic testing confirmed that the remains were those of Nazir Ahmad and Shero Ali, reigniting interest in the case. With this new evidence, a court order in 2012 officially reopened the investigation, giving hope to the families that justice might still be served.
Determined to unravel the mystery, the Kargil Police, under the leadership of SHO Inspector Manzoor Hussain, began piecing together evidence, using a combination of credible sources and mobile tracking technologies to trace the suspects’ movements. After over a decade of methodical investigative work, the police finally apprehended the primary suspects in Hira Nagar, Kathua.
The suspects were interrogated extensively, and during questioning, they confessed to the horrific crimes. According to police reports, the suspects then guided authorities through the rugged terrain to the original crime scene, retracing the chilling events that led to the brutal murders over two decades ago.
This landmark case has not only brought justice to the victims but also highlighted the relentless dedication of the Kargil Police in pursuing a resolution to this decades-old mystery. The families of the victims, who have long awaited this moment, now have closure as investigators seek to bring those responsible to trial. The arrests mark a significant victory in solving one of Kargil’s longest-standing cold cases, ending a dark chapter in the region’s history.
