SRINAGAR: Two separate deaths under mysterious circumstances in the Jammu region triggered public outrage and police investigations, with one incident sparking protests in Rajouri’s Budhal area.
According to media reports, the body of a young woman, identified as Sonia Akhtar, daughter of Abdul Gafoor of Kewal Upper, was found near Haya bridge in Budhal under unexplained circumstances. A passerby first noticed the body and alerted Budhal Police, who rushed to the scene and took the deceased into custody for medico-legal formalities.
The sudden nature of Sonia’s death and the location of the body raised suspicions among locals, who gathered at the site and staged a protest demanding a thorough and impartial probe. The protest was jointly led by Manzoor Ahmed Naik, District General Secretary of BJP Rajouri, and senior PDP leader Mohammad Farooq Inqlabi.
Protestors alleged that Sonia may have been murdered and demanded swift justice, voicing fears of a possible cover-up if prompt action was not taken. In response to the public outcry, SP Operations Budhal, Wajahat Hussain, visited the protest site and held talks with the aggrieved family and community members. He assured them that a case had already been registered at Police Station Budhal and that the investigation would proceed transparently and comprehensively.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident in neighbouring Udhampur district, a 40-year-old man reportedly died by suicide under mysterious circumstances. Police sources cited in local media said Resham Singh, son of Jagdev Singh and a resident of Chenani, was found hanging in the bathroom of his house in Shiv Nagar, Udhampur.
Police were informed by family members, and a team from Police Station Udhampur shifted the body to District Hospital Udhampur for post-mortem examination. Authorities have registered a case and launched an investigation to ascertain the cause behind the extreme step. As of now, no clear motive has been established.
Both cases have unsettled residents in their respective areas and highlighted the need for deeper investigation and community support mechanisms. While the Budhal case is fuelling fears of foul play, the Udhampur incident adds to the region’s growing concern over mental health and the need for timely intervention.
