Indian-occupied Kashmir’s director general of prisons found murdered

SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir (AA) – Police are investigating the murder of Jammu and Kashmir’s director general of prisons, who was found dead at his friend’s home overnight after his domestic help went missing.

Hemant Kumar Lohia was found dead inside his friend’s house where he had been staying for some days.

Additional Director General of Police Mukesh Singh told reporters that guards stationed outside the house broke into Lohia’s room, which was locked from inside, after noticing a fire there.

Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh told reporters that the killer had apparently strangled Lohia to death and then attempted to set the place on fire ostensibly to remove evidence of the crime. Dilbagh added that a search operation is underway to arrest the absconding help.

Lohia was staying at the home of his friend, Rajiv Khajuria, on the outskirts of Jammu city along with his family because his own house was under renovation.

Several local and Indian news channels have reported that ‘People’s Anti-Fascist Front’ has claimed responsibility for the killing, though the police have not commented on this yet.

The killing happened hours before Indian Home Minister Amit Shah began his three-day visit to the region, which had been stripped of its autonomy by the Indian government on August 5, 2019.

Disputed region

Muslim majority Kashmir is occupied primarily by India, whereas some of its parts are under Pakistani administration. A small sliver of Kashmir is also held by China.

Indian-occupied Kashmir has witnessed over half a century of liberation struggle against its illegal and oppressive occupation. Kashmiri groups fighting against the Indian rule call for either Kashmir’s independence or union with Muslim majority Pakistan.

According to several human rights groups, tens of thousands of Kashmiris have been killed in the conflict in the region since 1989.

India continues to detain thousands of Kashmiris either in Jammu and Kashmir or in India. These prisoners include minors, women, those who are ill and the elderly. In addition to those who have been languishing in jails for years for expressing their dissent to India’s occupation, an estimated 4,000 – 13,000 people have been detained since August 5. Custodial killings and reports of inhuman torture and abuse are not rare.

Prominent Kashmiri human rights activist Yasin Malik also continues to languish in Indian custody.