Jammu, May 8 -- An 18-year-old youth was brutally killed and his minor brother seriously injured at their home in Kathua district on Wednesday evening, officials said on Thursday.

The deceased was identified as Nakul Singh and his critically younger brother as Nikhil Singh, 16, of ward number 10 near Rajbagh in Kathua.

The incident happened when the victims were alone at home, officials said. Their father passed away four years ago, and their mother works as a PHE employee, they added.

"Around four years ago, the father of the two boys passed away. Since the boys' father was a PHE employee, their mother was appointed on compassionate grounds," a police official said.

The crime came to light after their mother returned home around 5 pm...