But as soon as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch, under the constant supervision of Inspector General (Crime Branch) Aloke Puri and Crime Branch SSP Ramesh Kumar Jalla, began picking up the accused for sustained interrogation, local leaders of different political parties began clamouring that the investigation was “shoddy.”

The key accused and administrator of a local temple in Kathua, Sanji Ram, who is a retired girdawar of the Irrigation Department, played a key role in mobilising crowds that led to the formation of the Hindu Ekta Manch (HEM). It comprised activists from different political parties competing on the same turf. The BJP’s state secretary, advocate Vijay Kumar, was appointed its vice president.