A protest demonstration was held in Udhampur against the killing of a Sikh man, Karan Singh Katoch under mysterious circumstances in a forest area pf Panchari in the district. According to Kashmir Media Service, Karan Singh, a resident of Upper Meer was found hanging on June 27, 2022, after a Special Police Officer visited his house and threatened to kill him. The deceased went missing the same evening and his body was found hanging from a tree, the next day. The protesters including family members of the deceased blocked the Udhampur-Panchari road for several hours.

They were demanding the registration of a case under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code and arrest of the culprits. According to Khajoor Singh, father of the deceased, an SPO had visited their house on the eve of the death of his son and threatened to kill Karan Singh, who went missing same evening and next day his body was found hanging from a tree in the forest area, the next day. This protest was held under the leadership of Sarpanch Panchari, Kuldeep Kumar Sharma, Sarpanch Upper Meer Naveena Devi and Sarpanch Kultyar Pawan Kumar.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP