Ganderbal encounter: Police question kin as probe intensifies into Rashid Mughal killing
Investigations underway into circumstances of 30-year-old man's death; family denies militant links, L-G orders magisterial probe
Jammu and Kashmir Police are questioning several people to investigate the circumstances leading to the death of a Ganderbal man who was described as a “terrorist” by the Army, following an “encounter” earlier this week in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal.
Sources said that several individuals, including the brother of the deceased, 30-year-old Rashid Mughal, a resident of Ganderbal, have been questioned so far.
“Police are making efforts to get to the bottom of the case. Questioning of several people has taken place, including the brother of Rashid,” said an official privy to the developments.
Related news: L-G Manoj Sinha orders magisterial probe into Ganderbal encounter
Ganderbal encounter: Family denies militancy links, CM Omar seeks probe
An officer said that investigators are also looking into how the Army received the tip-off and how the slain man reached the spot where the encounter took place.
The Ganderbal encounter has snowballed into a major controversy after the family of the deceased—labelled a “terrorist” by the Army—denied any militant links.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday ordered a “thorough and impartial” magisterial probe into the incident.
The Army had on Wednesday stated that a militant was killed in an operation that began a day earlier. However, it did not disclose the identity or affiliation of the slain individual. The Jammu and Kashmir Police also did not issue any statement since the beginning of the operation.
A family from Chountwaliwar in Ganderbal district said the deceased was their kin and claimed he was innocent, with “no links to militancy.”
As the family demanded an inquiry, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called for a “transparent and time-bound probe,” warning that any attempt to “obfuscate or delay” the process would damage credibility.
Earlier, the Army’s Chinar Corps said a joint search operation was launched in the Arhama area based on specific intelligence inputs. During the operation, troops noticed suspicious movement and, upon being challenged, came under fire, prompting retaliation.
