Ganderbal encounter: Area resident claims slain person his brother, not a militant; family demands probe
The Army had announced earlier that one 'militant' had been killed in the encounter in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal
A day after the Army said that one "militant" had been killed in an encounter in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal, a family in the valley has claimed that the deceased was their son, and he had “no link with militancy”.
Ajaz Ahmad, brother of the slain Rashid Ahmad Mughal, from the Chountwaliwar area of Ganderbal told The Tribune that he had left home on Tuesday morning but didn’t return.
“He left home in the morning and didn’t return home. Yesterday, the local police were asked to identify the body and it was found out that it was my brother,” he said.
Ajaz said that his brother had no link with militancy. “We are shocked to hear this. He was totally innocent and he has been killed,” he said, adding that the clothes his brother was wearing when he left home are not the same he saw on Wednesday.
The family has now demanded an investigation. “We are approaching the police to register a case. We want a complete investigation and justice,” said Ajaz.
The Indian Army, which had confirmed that one terroriost had been killed in the operation, too hasn't revealed the identity and affiliation of the militant. The Jammu and Kashmir Police are yet to issue a statement on the operation.
Srinagar-based Defence PRO Lt Col Manoj Sahu said he could not comment on the allegations of the family, adding that further details would emerge as the police determine the slain person’s background..
Srinagar-based Chinar Corps had stated in a post on X that based on specific Intelligence, a joint search operation was launched by the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Arhama area of Ganderbal.
In another post, the Army wrote that “during the search, vigilant troops observed suspicious activity. On being challenged, terrorists opened fire and our troops retaliated, the post read.
