A day after an encounter in Ganderbal in which the Indian Army claimed to have killed a terrorist, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday called for a transparent and time-bound probe following the slain man’s family asserting that he was innocent.
Taking to X, Omar said the family’s claims “should not be dismissed out of hand” and stressed that the facts surrounding the encounter must be made public. He cautioned that any delay or lack of transparency in ordering a probe would undermine credibility.
Earlier, the Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said one militant was killed during ‘Operation Arhama’ in Ganderbal. According to the Army, the operation unfolded on the night of March 31, when troops, responding to intermittent firing, “reorganised the cordon tactically” and eliminated one terrorist in a calibrated response.
The incident, however, has triggered a political row, with National Conference MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi also demanding a “time-bound and independent probe.” He cited the family’s allegations that Rashid Ahmad Mughal, who was killed in the encounter, had no links to militancy and raised concerns over the handling of the case, including claims that his clothes were changed and his identity not immediately disclosed.
Calling the allegations “gravely serious,” Ruhullah criticised the silence of the police and pressed for an impartial investigation.
Reacting to the controversy, Mehbooba Mufti, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party, described the developments as “deeply disturbing.” She alleged that the 29-year-old was running an NGO and pointed to inconsistencies in the claims about his identity, adding that his body was buried in Baramulla.
The controversy intensified after the deceased’s brother, Ajaz Ahmad from Chountwaliwar in Ganderbal, said Rashid had left home on Tuesday but never returned. He maintained that his brother was not involved in militancy and was later identified by police as the person killed in the encounter.
The family has reiterated its demand for a thorough and transparent investigation, insisting that Rashid Ahmad Mughal was an innocent civilian.