On August 23, a missing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader identified as Som Raj was found hanging from a tree in Hiranagar town of district Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir. Som Raj has been missing since Monday. The J&K Police has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the matter.
J&K | BJP leader Som Raj’s body found hanging from a tree in Kathua
— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2022
A hanging incident occurred in Hiranagar. SIT constituted, along with a 4-member board of doctors for post-mortem. FIR to be filed; probe underway; we’ll look into the cause of death: SSP Kathua RC Kotwal (23.8) pic.twitter.com/Qc3UmoN1DF
As per reports, the dead body of the BJP leader was found hanging by a villager at some distance from his house, who then informed the Police. The body reportedly had blood marks. The Police recovered the body and sent it to a Sub District Hospital (SDH) in Hiranagar hospital for post-mortem.
BJP leader Som Raj was found hanging from a tree under ‘mysterious circumstances’ with blood marks on body in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district, he was missing for the past few days.
— Ashwini Shrivastava (@AshwiniSahaya) August 24, 2022
जम्मू-कश्मीर के कठुआ जिले में पिछले कुछ दिनों से लापता भाजपा नेता सोम राज
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The Police have registered a case under Section 174 of CrPC. The family members and BJP leaders have sought a detailed probe into the death of Som Raj. Following the post-mortem, the body was handed over to the family for the last rites.
Union minister Jitendra Singh expressed condolences in a tweet and said, “Deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing away of our old colleague and senior BJP leader Shri Som Raj (Soma) in Hiranagar, District Kathua. May God rest his soul.”
हीरानगर, ज़िला #Kathua में हमारे पुराने साथी एवं भाजपा के वरिष्ठ नेता श्री सोम राज (सोमा) के स्वर्गवास की खबर सुनकर अत्यंत दुख हुआ। परमात्मा उनकी आत्मा को शांति दे। 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/ODyXV7Jh4m
— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) August 23, 2022
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kathua RC Kotwal said in a statement that an SIT headed by SDPO Border was constituted to investigate the death of a BJP leader. He said, “Questioning of the leaders on whom the family has leveled allegation will also be conducted, and whosoever will be found guilty will be dealt with iron hands.”