Alleged terror incident: Throat-slit bodies of a couple found in Kotranka in Rajouri.

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL
SHYAM SOOD

RAJOURI OCTOBER 17 :–4 members of family were killed by terrorists between 1995-97.=Husband’s left foot was amputated while wife’s eyes were damaged by killers
=SIT to investigate the gruesome murders.
=Being a nationalist family, we are on terrorist’s hit list: Phalwan Ayoub Khan

In an alleged gruesome terror act and heart-wrenching incident, the throat-slit bodies of a couple were found in a Dhok (mud-house in pasture) at Bagla in Kotranka sub-division of Rajouri district on Tuesday morning.

Not only the throats were slit but the killers also amputated the left foot of the husband and damaged the eyes of the wife and both were found strangulated in initial medical examination before their brutal murder.

The deceased have been identified as Mohd Azam s/o Mohd Khan (Sena Medal winner in World war-II) and residents of Kandi-Bagla.

At the time of the barbaric incident that occurred at about midnight on October 16 & 17, the couple was alone in the Dhok.

It is pertinent to mention here that four commandos of elite Para (special force) & a soldier of RR had attained martyrdom in this area on May 6 this year when the troops were chasing terrorists.

The deceased was the younger brother of Pahalwan Ayoub Khan, an ex-serviceman who had represented India 3-4 times in the Asian games and a prominent Pahari Community leader /social worker.

“For the last about thirty years our family has been on the hit list of terrorists for raising the flag of India. We are true Indians. I am an ex-soldier, my son is a serving soldier and my father was the Sena Medal winner in World War-II. But the authorities have failed to provide security to our family,” said Ayoub Khan.

Ayoub Khan’s wife, younger brother (HC in J&K Police), & two nephews were killed by the terrorists between 1995 & 1997, and another brother & his wife were killed in 2023.

He has raised a question mark on the Administration’s claim of a terror-free area and has demanded immediate security for the family members.

Ayuob has also denied any confrontation/ misunderstanding with the fellow villagers and said: I remained Sarpanch twice and at present my wife is Sarpanch of the area and we move freely for the welfare of our people,”.

Ayoub has demanded an in-depth and transparent investigation into the gruesome murder of his brother & Bhabi.

The deceased Mohd Azam was working as a porter with the Army and at present his son is a porter with the Army and that could be the reason behind these brutal murders.

The killer had used a sharp-edged weapon/knife to slit the throats of the couple. The signs of rope were found on the hands & throat (round) on the body of Mohd Azam while a V-shape rope sign was on the throat of the wife’s body.

The police brought the bodies to CHC at Koteranka after legal formalities for post-mortem.

After the post-mortem & other medico-legal formalities, the police handed over the bodies to family members for their last rites.

After a large-scale protest against the Civil/Police administration, Deputy Commissioner & SSP Rajouri reached Koteranka in the evening and assured Phalwan Ayoub Khan & other family members of their security and SSP also said to constitute SIT to investigate the incident.

DIG Rajouri-Poonch Range, Dr Haseeb Mughal while talking to reporters termed the incident as a case of brutal murder and an inhumane act.

“At this juncture, we cannot rule out anything including the terror angle,” he said.

Meanwhile, inhabitants of the area have also demanded the deployment of additional forces for their security after terrorist’s presence in the area.

Rajouri has witnessed the first incident of throat-slitting after cease-firing along LoC/all other sectors with effect from midnight of February 24/25 in 2021.