J&K L-G Orders Magisterial Inquiry into Ganderbal Killing Amid Allegations of Fake Encounter

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the killing of a local youth by security forces in Ganderbal district, an incident that authorities initially described as an encounter with a separatist militant.

The decision follows widespread protests and mounting allegations from local residents and the deceased’s family, who insist that the killing was staged and that the youth had no links to militancy.

The incident occurred late on Tuesday night in the Arhama area of Ganderbal and immediately triggered public outrage. Family members and locals identified the deceased as 28-year-old Raashid Ahmad Mughal of Lar, Ganderbal, asserting that Mughal was an unarmed civilian. They rejected the official claim that Mughal was a militant, alleging instead that the killing amounted to a fake encounter.

Announcing the decision on social media platform 'X', the Lt. Governor stated that a “thorough and impartial magisterial inquiry” had been ordered into the Arhama incident. The inquiry, according to the statement, will examine all aspects of the case to ensure that justice is served. Acting on this directive, the J&K Home Department issued a formal order to the District Magistrate, Ganderbal, instructing that a comprehensive and unbiased inquiry be conducted to ascertain the facts and circumstances leading to Mughal’s death. The order specifies that the inquiry should be completed within seven days, after which a report must be submitted to the Home Department.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier expressed public support for the family’s demand for an impartial investigation. While security forces maintained that the killing took place during an encounter with a militant, the Chief Minister emphasised that the family’s claims should not be dismissed outright. Writing on 'X' on Thursday, Abdullah called for a transparent, time-bound probe and urged that all facts be placed in the public domain. Any attempt to delay or obscure the inquiry, the Chief Minister cautioned, would further erode public trust at a time when institutional credibility is critical.

The Indian Army stated on Wednesday that a local militant had been killed during an overnight encounter following a cordon-and-search operation launched late Tuesday. According to the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, also known as the Chinar Corps, the operation was jointly conducted with the J&K Police after receiving what was described as specific intelligence regarding suspicious movement in the area. Updates shared on 'X' indicated that troops engaged militants after detecting movement, and a subsequent statement confirmed the killing of one "terrorist" as the operation continued. The Army said the cordon was tactically reorganised to prevent escape and that personnel responded with “calibrated and effective” counter-fire, resulting in the elimination of the alleged militant.

The deceased was later identified as Raashid Ahmad Mughal, with identification confirmed by his elder brother at the Police Control Room in Srinagar. Soon after, the family challenged the official narrative. Ajaz Ahmad, Mughal’s brother, stated that Raashid had no association with militancy and had left home on Tuesday morning for routine work but failed to return. The family further alleged that the clothes Mughal was wearing at the time of death did not match those worn when leaving home, raising further questions about the circumstances surrounding the killing. They have since reiterated their demand for an impartial and credible investigation.

Police sources had on Thursday indicated that the local police station is examining Mughal’s background to verify whether there were any links to militancy and to assess the family’s claim that Mughal may have been detained, killed, and subsequently portrayed as a militant. As scrutiny intensified, calls for transparency grew louder, with many stressing that only a clear and timely probe can address the serious questions surrounding the case.

The issue also resonated during Friday prayers at Srinagar’s Jama Masjid, where Kashmir’s chief Muslim cleric, Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq, described the reports of the killing as deeply distressing. Referring to the family’s claim that Mughal was a part-time computer operator with no militant links who was picked up and killed, the Mirwaiz said the incident revived painful memories of past encounters. Emphasising that the family seeks justice through an impartial probe, the Mirwaiz noted that past experiences did not inspire confidence, but expressed hope that, with the Lt. Governor personally ordering an inquiry, accountability would be ensured and those responsible punished. The Mirwaiz also condemned the failure to hand over Mughal’s body to the family for burial, calling it inhuman and unacceptable.

More broadly, the Mirwaiz drew attention to what was described as an atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Kashmir, citing frequent reports of cases, chargesheets and arrests by multiple agencies, including the SIA, CIK, Cyber Cell, ACB and NIA. Such actions, the Mirwaiz said, reinforce a narrative that portrays an entire population as suspect and under constant surveillance. This coercive approach, the Mirwaiz argued, cannot build sustainable peace or genuine progress, if those are indeed the stated objectives of the authorities.