SRINAGAR: After 26 years of unanswered questions and stalled investigations, Kargil Police have finally solved a chilling quadruple murder case that dates back to 1998. The breakthrough has brought long-sought justice to the families of four men who disappeared under mysterious circumstances while on a livestock purchasing trip to Wardwan.
The case began on October 7, 1998, when Bashir Ahmad from Tangole reported his brother, Mohammad Ali, missing along with three companions: Haji Anayat Ali from Karghi, Shero Ali from Kathua, and Nazir Ahmad. The men vanished without a trace, sparking one of the region’s most extensive manhunts. Initial investigations led to a group of suspects being detained in Khati Talab, Jammu, on April 25, 1999, but without conclusive evidence, they were later released on bail, and the case languished. By 2007, the investigation had officially closed as “untraced.”
The cold case took a new turn in September 2011, when skeletal remains were discovered near Kanital Glacier. DNA testing confirmed that the remains belonged to Nazir Ahmad and Shero Ali, breathing new life into the stalled investigation. A court order in 2012 officially reopened the case, and the police renewed efforts to bring closure to the families.
Years of painstaking work and extensive detective work followed, led by Inspector Manzoor Hussain, Station House Officer of Kargil. The police pieced together the suspects’ movements using credible sources and modern mobile tracking techniques, gradually building a case against the perpetrators.
Police finally apprehended the suspects in Hira Nagar, Kathua. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the murders and took investigators to the remote, rugged terrain where the crime had taken place.
This resolution marks a landmark achievement for Kargil Police and a moment of closure for the victims’ families, who have awaited justice for over two decades. (With KINS inputs)
