Kargil Police crack 26-year-old quadruple murder case, Arrest three suspects
Kargil, Nov 12, KNT: The Kargil police have solved a chilling quadruple murder mystery that had gone cold for 26 years, bringing relief to the victims’ families.
The case dates back to October 7, 1998, when four men – Muhammad Ali, Haji Anayat Ali, Shero Ali, and Nazir Ahmad – went missing while traveling to Wardwan to purchase livestock. An investigation was launched in 1999, but it hit a dead end, and the case was declared “untraced” in 2007.
However, the discovery of skeletal remains in 2011, identified as Nazir Ahmad and Shero Ali through DNA, revived the case. Charges were upgraded to murder and robbery in 2012.
Under the leadership of SHO Inspector Manzoor Hussain and the supervision of SP Mujeeb-ur-Rehman and SSP Shree Raam, the Kargil police relentlessly pursued the suspects, utilizing advanced mobile tracking and local intelligence. The suspects – Rafeeq, Fareed, and Aziz – were finally apprehended in Hira Nagar, Kathua.
The Kargil police said that interrogation revealed shocking details, leading investigators to the remote crime scene, where vital evidence was recovered. The suspects confessed to the crimes, and their arrest marks a significant victory for justice. [KNT]
Following in the unedited police press release………
In a story of resilience and relentless pursuit of justice, the Kargil police have solved a chilling 26-year-old quadruple murder case, finally bringing peace to the families of the victims. This incredible breakthrough comes with the arrest of three individuals believed responsible for one of the most haunting crimes in Ladakh’s history.
The tragic case began on October 7, 1998, when Bashir Ahmad from Tangole reported his brother, Mohd Ali, missing along with three others—Haji Anayat Ali from Karghi, Shero Ali from Kathua, and Nazir Ahmad. The men had set off for Wardwan to purchase livestock, but they never returned. Suspicion soon fell on three men: Mohd Rafeeq and Mohd Fareed from Hira Nagar, Kathua, and Abdul Aziz from Niyani, Samba. When Haji Anayat’s nephew, Mohd Yusuf, filed a formal complaint on April 17, 1999, an investigation began under FIR No. 37/1999, charging the suspects with abduction under Section 364 RPC.
The initial investigation hit a wall when the suspects, arrested in Khati Talab, Jammu, in April 1999, were released on bail due to insufficient evidence. Despite years of effort, the case was declared “untraced” and closed in 2007. Then, in a shocking twist, skeletal remains were discovered near Kanital Glacier in 2011, later identified through DNA as Nazir Ahmad and Shero Ali. This critical evidence reignited the case, and in 2012, charges were upgraded to murder and robbery, adding Sections 302 and 382 RPC.
However, tracking the suspects proved a daunting task. Living nomadic lifestyles, they frequently changed locations, evading capture. Yet, the new police team—under the leadership of SHO Inspector Manzoor Hussain at Panikhar Police Station, with the close supervision of SP Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, JKPS Add. SP Kargil, and guidance from SSP Shree Raam, IPS—remained undeterred. Through dogged perseverance, advanced mobile tracking, and coordination with local sources, the Kargil police located the suspects in Hira Nagar, Kathua. They were finally taken into custody and placed on a seven-day police remand.
The suspects’ interrogation brought chilling details to light. Confessions led Inspector Manzoor Hussain’s team through grueling, mountainous terrain to the remote crime scene, retracing the suspects’ steps over four days to recover vital evidence. Under the watchful presence of an executive magistrate and medical team, every step toward justice was taken with precision.
This remarkable success stands as a testament to the saying, “Kanoon ka haath lamba hota hai”—the reach of the law is long. The Kargil police have demonstrated that even decades cannot shield wrongdoers from justice. The community, deeply moved by the commitment and tenacity of their district police, is hailing these officers for their courage and determination. Despite attempts to sway their efforts, these officers showed unyielding integrity, refusing any bribes that might have tainted their work.
In solving this case, Kargil’s district police have showcased the very best of law enforcement—a combination of unshakable integrity, professionalism, and perseverance. This long-awaited justice brings closure to the families of the victims and stands as a powerful reminder that crime cannot hide forever from the light of the law.
