Omar Abdullah Calls for Transparent Probe Into Ganderbal ‘Encounter’ Killing
The Indian Army had announced on Wednesday that a local militant was killed during an overnight encounter that followed a cordon-and-search operation launched late Tuesday. According to the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, also known as the Chinar Corps, the operation was initiated jointly with the J&K Police after receiving what it described as “specific intelligence input” about suspicious movement in the area
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has publicly supported the demand for an impartial investigation into allegations surrounding the killing of a Kashmiri youth in Ganderbal district. Security forces had described the incident as an encounter with a militant, but the victim’s family insists he was an unarmed civilian.
Abdullah, writing on ‘X’ on Thursday, stressed that the family’s claims “should not be dismissed out of hand” and urged authorities to ensure a “transparent and time-bound probe” with all facts made public. Any attempt to delay or obscure the inquiry, he warned, would erode public trust at a time when credibility is essential.
The Indian Army had announced on Wednesday that a local militant was killed during an overnight encounter that followed a cordon-and-search operation launched late Tuesday. According to the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, also known as the Chinar Corps, the operation was initiated jointly with the J&K Police after receiving what it described as “specific intelligence input” about suspicious movement in the area. Updates posted on ‘X’ stated that troops had engaged militants after detecting such movement, and a later communication confirmed the killing of one militant while the operation continued. The Army added that the cordon was “tactically reorganised” to prevent escape and that its personnel responded with “calibrated and effective” counter-fire, ultimately resulting in the elimination of the alleged militant.
The deceased was identified as 28-year-old Rashid Ahmad Mughal, a resident of Lar in Ganderbal. His elder brother confirmed his identity at the Police Control Room in Srinagar. However, the family soon contested the official version of events. Ajaz Ahmad, the victim’s brother, asserted that Rashid had no connection to militancy and had left home on Tuesday morning for routine work but never returned. He further claimed that the clothes Rashid was wearing at the time of his death were not the ones he had on when he left home, raising additional concerns about the circumstances of the killing. The family has since demanded an impartial and credible investigation to establish the truth.
Police sources have indicated that the local police station is examining Rashid’s background to determine whether he had any links to militancy and to verify the family’s allegation that he may have been detained, killed, and subsequently portrayed as a militant. As public scrutiny intensifies, the call for a transparent probe has gained momentum, with many emphasising that only a clear and timely investigation can address the growing questions surrounding the incident.
