Kargil: In a remarkable breakthrough, the Kargil Police claimed to have cracked a 26-year-old quadruple murder case, finally bringing closure to a case that had remained a mystery for nearly three decades. According to the Police Officials, “The case dates back to October 7, 1998, when Bashir Ahmad from Tangole reported the disappearance of his brother Mohd Ali and three others—Haji Anayat Ali from Karghi, Shero Ali from Kathua, and Nazir Ahmad—who had traveled to Wardwan in Kargil to purchase livestock. After their sudden disappearance, a investigation was launched.”
Initial efforts to locate the missing men led to the detention of a group of suspects in Khati Talab, Jammu, on April 25, 1999, but due to a lack of conclusive evidence, the suspects were released on bail. With no new leads, the investigation stagnated, and the case was eventually closed in 2007 as “untraced.” However, in September 2011, a major development occurred when skeletal remains were discovered near Kanital Glacier. DNA testing confirmed that the remains belonged to Nazir Ahmad and Shero Ali, reigniting interest in the cold case. A court order in 2012 officially reopened the investigation, but it took over a decade of relentless work by the Kargil Police to finally make headway.
Under the leadership of SHO Inspector Manzoor Hussain, the police team employed advanced investigative techniques, including mobile tracking and gathering credible intelligence, which eventually led to the identification and apprehension of the suspects in Hira Nagar, Kathua.
During interrogation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in the gruesome murders and guided police to the crime scene in the rugged Wardwan area. The confession has finally brought closure to the families of the victims, who had long awaited justice.
