J&K Chief Minister Calls for Investigation into Ganderbal Encounter

Overview of the Incident

On Thursday, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah demanded a “transparent and time-bound probe” into the circumstances surrounding a fatal encounter involving the Army on March 31 in Ganderbal. The family of the deceased claims that he had no links to terrorism and has formally lodged a police complaint seeking an FIR and investigation.

Family Claims of Innocence

The encounter was initially reported by the Army, which stated that one terrorist was eliminated during a joint operation with the J&K Police in the Arahama area of Ganderbal. However, Ajaz Ahmad Mughal, the brother of the deceased, Rashid Ahmad Mughal (28), is adamant that Rashid was not involved in any terror activities.

Ajaz revealed that on the morning of March 31, Rashid left home but did not return. The next day, he was informed by the SHO of the Lar police station that Rashid had been in an accident. When he went to the police control room in Srinagar, he was asked to identify the body.

Allegations of Tampering with Evidence

Upon identifying his brother’s body, Ajaz was told by the police that it belonged to a foreign terrorist. He insisted, “I told them he is my brother,” noting that the state of the body showed that bullets had severely damaged Rashid’s skull. Ajaz noted that his brother was buried in Kupwara, as authorities have been preventing the return of local terrorists’ bodies to their families since 2019.

Community Support and Background

Ajaz emphasized that his brother was well-known in the village of Chountwaliewar and throughout Ganderbal district, where many can attest to his character. He mentioned that Rashid was actively helping locals obtain Aadhaar and domicile certificates and was even preparing for Army recruitment.

Official Response and Reactions

As of now, neither the police nor the Srinagar-based defense PRO has issued a statement regarding the allegations made by the Mughal family. Meanwhile, Srinagar-Ganderbal MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi called the family’s claims grave and questioned the silence from the J&K Police.

Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has also accused the authorities of staging a fake encounter, emphasizing that Rashid was an orphan who was actively running an NGO.

Conclusion

The call for a detailed investigation into this encounter underscores the ongoing tensions and the need for transparency in operations involving security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. As the community seeks answers, the demand for justice and accountability remains at the forefront.