Lohia murder case: No terror link found, say cops

JAMMU: Jammu & Kashmir Police on Wednesday said that no terror angle was found in the murder of director-general (prisons) H K Lohia.
Lohia was found dead under suspicious circumstances in a house in Jammu’s Udaywala area on Monday night and his domestic help was arrested for his murder a day later. Police claimed that the accused had confessed to the murder of the senior police officer and the investigation was on.
ADGP Mukesh Singh reiterated that no terror angle had emerged during the investigation of the murder case till now. “In the initial investigation into Lohia’s death, it has come to fore that Yasir Ahmed, a resident of Ramban, is the main accused,” ADGP Singh said, adding that the CCTV footage collected from the area showed him running after committing the crime.
“The interrogation of the accused is still underway and his disclosures in the matter are being corroborated with field investigation,” Singh added.
Lohia was cremated with full police honours here on Wednesday and a wreath-laying ceremony was held at Jammu district police lines before that. “Senior police officers, retired officers, officers from civil administration and relatives paid rich tributes to the departed soul,” a police spokesperson said.
J&K lieutenant-governor Manoj Sinha expressed shock and grief over Lohia’s murder. “Hemant K Lohia was an outstanding police officer and a great human being. He served the country with great honour & dedication. Shocked and deeply grieved at his sad demise. My condolences to the bereaved family and friends,” he tweeted.
J&K DGP Dilbag Singh said the “officer was a very dear colleague and his services and contributions to different organizations will always be remembered.”
The 1992-batch IPS officer was born in 1965 in Assam and served in key positions, including both staff and field postings in Jammu and Kashmir Police, BSF and the prisons department.