Jammu and Kashmir DG Jail Hemant Lohia murdered, police suspect domestic help

Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (Prisons) Hemant Lohia was murdered at his residence here and the police suspect his domestic help. A senior police officer has given this information. Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh termed it as a “very unfortunate” incident and said a search operation has been launched to nab the domestic helper named Jaseer, who is absconding. Singh said the suspect also tried to set the body of 57-year-old Lohia on fire.

Lohia was promoted and appointed as Director General of Prisons of the Union Territory in August. Additional Director General of Police (Jammu region) Mukesh Singh said that Lohia, 52, a 1992 batch IPS officer, died at his Udaiwala residence on the outskirts of the city. Found whose throat was slit and there were burn marks on his body.

The police chief said that preliminary investigation at the spot indicated that Lohia may have applied some oil on his leg in which some swelling was visible. He said the killer first strangled Lohia to death and then used a broken bottle of ketchup to slit his throat and later tried to set the body on fire, he said.

He said security personnel present at the officer’s residence noticed a fire inside Lohia’s room and they broke it as the door was locked from inside. , ‘The domestic helper is absconding. His search has been started.’ He said that forensic and crime teams are on the spot. ‘The investigation process has started,’ the officer said. Senior officers are on the spot.’ He said that the Jammu and Kashmir Police family expresses deep grief over the death of their senior officer.