A sombre cloud hangs over Kandote village in Thathri tehsil of Doda district following the discovery of 45-year-old Subash’s lifeless body on Tuesday, January 30th. Subash, who hailed from Ranote village of Kahara tehsil, had been missing since returning from a party in Kandote on the evening of January 27th.
Key Points
- Subash, a 45-year-old man from Doda district, went missing on January 27th after returning from a party.
- His body was discovered on January 30th, raising questions about the discrepancy with earlier searches.
- Police claim initial examination reveals no evidence of foul play, but a thorough investigation is ongoing.
- Subash’s family demands a deeper probe and expresses suspicion of foul play.
Police and locals launched a frantic search after Subash’s wife, Pooja Devi, raised the alarm. According to Ms. Devi, her husband’s phone went dead after returning from the party, and he last contacted her in a panicked state, claiming two unknown men were assaulting him in a forested area. Unable to reach him on her depleted phone and with young children to care for, Ms. Devi alerted her brother and other relatives the next morning.
The search intensified on January 29th when locals stumbled upon burnt remains and blood traces in a forest clearing. Fears of Subash’s demise spread like wildfire, but forensic teams quickly debunked the rumors, confirming the charred remains belonged to an animal.
However, a twist came on Tuesday morning when Subash’s body was found near bushes along a village path. This discovery contradicted earlier claims by the family who insisted they had thoroughly searched the same area. Police, while acknowledging the discrepancy, maintain they found the body lying on the ground with facial injuries and two bottles of alcohol discovered in its pockets.
Subash’s body has been transferred to Thathri Hospital for a medico-legal examination. While the primary examination revealed no evidence of foul play, police assure a thorough investigation is underway.
“We are committed to uncovering the truth and bringing justice if foul play is confirmed,” declared a police official.
Meanwhile, Subash’s family remains unconvinced and demands a deeper probe. “He was a peaceful man with no animosity towards anyone,” claimed Abhishek Bhagat, the brother of Pooja Devi, while speaking to The Chenab Times. “His sudden death, particularly near a spot we searched repeatedly, raises several questions.”
Anzer Ayoob is the Founder and Chief Editor to The Chenab Times