Jammu Kashmir Police have traced two minor boys, who went missing from Rajbagh in Kathua district over two weeks ago, to Krandi village in the same district. The incident comes at a time of heightened security concerns following the recent killings of three civilians in the region.
The boys, aged 12 and 15, had reportedly traveled to Punjab in search of work but could not clearly explain their movements. However, one of them claimed that they had been abducted from Hardoi Muthi village by unidentified individuals in a black vehicle. He alleged that they were taken to a house, provided food, and later managed to board a bus and a train before reaching Krandi.
The duo had gone missing on February 27 while grazing cattle near the Bhamberwan Goat Farm. Their disappearance led to a large-scale search operation involving multiple police teams dispatched to Punjab and surrounding areas. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police for Jammu, Samba, and Kathua range, Shiv Kumar Sharma, personally visited their families and instructed officials to circulate their photographs to aid in their recovery.
Rajbagh Station House Officer (SHO) Ajay Singh Chib confirmed that the boys were eventually found in a field in Rajbagh and reunited with their families. The children claimed that a man had taken them to Pathankot, fed them for several days, and later abandoned them in the field after allegedly sedating them. Police are currently investigating these claims.
The incident has drawn significant attention as security concerns mount in the region. The matter was raised in the assembly following the discovery of three civilian bodies—Yogesh Singh (32), Darshan Singh (40), and Varun Singh (15)—in Ishu Nallah on March 8, two days after they went missing while traveling to a wedding.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh described the killings as part of a “deep conspiracy” aimed at disturbing peace in the region and stated that the Union Home Secretary would assess the situation on the ground. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the killings as “barbaric,” while Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has ordered a thorough investigation.
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