The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed uproar on the final day of the Budget session as legislators from the National Conference, Congress and PDP demanded a fair judicial probe into the Ganderbal encounter, which the victim’s family has alleged it was fake encounter.
The Army claimed that the man killed in the Arhama forests on March 31 was a terrorist. The deceased, Rashid Ahmad Mughal, was a resident of Ganderbal. His family has strongly challenged the Army’s version, claiming that the young man had no terror connections and terming the encounter fake. They have demanded the return of his body for proper burial and medico-legal formalities.
As the House assembled on Saturday, legislators from both treasury and opposition benches — barring the BJP — condemned the killing and demanded a statement from Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on the issue.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday ordered a magisterial probe into the encounter and sought a report within seven days on a priority basis.
NC MLA Mubarak Gul demanded that the House issue a strong note condemning the killing of an “innocent man” and urged that accountability be fixed in the matter.
NC legislator and former judge Justice Hasnain Masoodi also demanded the right to a proper and dignified burial, as enshrined in human rights principles and the Indian Constitution.
“Any restriction on this right undermines the principles of justice and democratic values,” he said, backing the family’s demand to return the body. Mughal was buried by police in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district, in line with the standard procedure followed for terrorists killed in encounters.
Congress MLA Nizamuddin Bhat said an administrative probe would not suffice in such a serious matter and that a proper judicial inquiry was needed to ensure fairness and credibility. He said, “Administrative level inquiries often tend to balance competing interests, thereby hampering the very process that needs to be held in a proper professional manner. Only a judicial inquiry would ensure transparency and timely justice.”
NC legislator Mir Saifullah termed the incident “deeply concerning” and demanded a judicial inquiry to identify those responsible and hold them accountable.
His colleague and Congress MLA Irfan Hafiz Lone, while holding a placard in favour of the affected family, said justice must be served in this case and there needs to be a result-oriented inquiry to bring out the truth.
Also read: Railways, stakeholders join hands to boost J&K economy
Follow us
