J&K CM, Mufti seek probe into Ganderbal encounter killing

Srinagar: J&K CM Omar Abdulah on Thursday sought a probe into the killing of an alleged local militant in an encounter with the Army as scepticism intensified over the claims of the security forces.

Opposition leader Mehbooba Mufti of PDP joined the CM in demanding a time-bound investigation into the killing of Rashid Ahmad Mughal, 29, whose family filed a complaint with the police stating that he had no links with militants.

The Army had said that on Tuesday night an operation was launched in Arahama in Ganderbal district during which a cordon was tactically reorganised on the “1st of April in which one terrorist was eliminated”. Mughal’s family members said they were shocked when they were asked to identify his body. They said he was working as a computer operator and running an NGO after finishing his master’s in commerce. He had left home on Tuesday and never returned.



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After the identification, the body was not handed over to the family but shifted to a graveyard in Baramulla more than 60 km away. In 2020, following Covid-19 outbreak, the police stopped handing over the bodies of alleged militants to their families and buried them in graveyards far off from their native places.

“We have filed a complaint with the police and we are sure we will get justice. He had no militant links,” said a family member, adding Mughal’s brother, Ajaz Ahmad, is now striving to get justice for his sibling.

"He left home around 9:30am for routine work of documentation. When he didn't return home in the evening I called him on his phone around 7:30pm and it was switched off," Ajaz told ET. Next day on April 1, Ajaz went to Sindh river for river bed mining as per the routine. "He had an old phone and I thought it must have been damaged and not working. At around 10am I got a call from SHO of Lar police station informing me that my brother has met an accident and I should be there immediately," said Ajaz. When he reached Ganderbal he was accompanied by the police to Police Control Room in Srinagar where he was shown the body of his brother. "His face was mutilated but I could recognise him by his hair and feet," said Ajaz.

He claimed that his clothes were changed and "a worn out pheran (cloak) was out on him with commando shoes." "He never wore pheran in his life. He was wearing a Khan dress of sky-blue color when he left home. A tight trouser was put on him over his shalwar. Why were his clothes changed? Who changed his clothes," said Ajaz. He said that Mughal was raised at an orphanage in Srinagar from where he completed his school till 10th grade. Later he completed his 12th from Higher Secondary in Manigam and got enrolled at Government Degree college in Ganderbal for BCom. Later he completed his master in commerce from Kashmir University in 2022.

"It is a cold blooded murder and we demand justice. People across the area are ready to come out with me on the road to seek justice," said Ajaz. He informed that their elder brother--Ishfaq Mughal-- was killed by militants inside their home in 2000, for working with the army.

"It is a part of record that my elder brother has helped army in killing five or six militants. He was working for the army between 1998-2000. We have a certificate to prove that. He worked with Naga regiment of the army in Kangan," said Ajaz adding, "None of our brothers is across the border." He further added that "he and his sister were witness to the killing of their elder brother whose body was not given back to the family. Militants dumped it somewhere we don't know."


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"My other brother works as a portar with the army as well. We demand immediate justice to ensure that it doesn't happen with anyone else. Today it was my brother and tomorrow it could be anyone else," said Ajaz.

CM Abdullah said: “At the very least this encounter needs a transparent and time-bound probe with the facts made public. Any attempt to obfuscate or delay the announcement of a probe will only damage credibility and that is not in anyone’s interest.” Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar Aga Ruhullah of NC also sought a time-bound probe.

Police officials in Ganderbal said a formal complaint has been received and it is being examined. “One of his brothers is probably across the border and we are questioning some people including a family member about this,” said a senior police official.

A Srinagar-based defence spokesperson said: “As of now, this is just an allegation. This was a genuine operation and the Army did its job. Police will have all the reports and details about it. Let the police probe into this,” the spokesperson told ET.