Srinagar, April 3
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday ordered a magisterial probe into the encounter in Ganderbal district in which one alleged terrorist was killed by security forces.
Several mainstream leaders including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti raised questions about the encounter that took place on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.
Posting on X, Sinha said he had ordered a thorough and impartial magisterial inquiry into the Arhama, Ganderbal incident. He added that the inquiry will examine all aspects related to the incident and ensure that justice is served.
The family of the slain youth Rashid Ahmad Mughal claimed that the deceased had no links to terrorism.
Abdullah said on Thursday that he believed the claim of the family should not be dismissed out of hand and that the encounter needed a transparent and time bound probe with the facts made public. He further said that any attempt to obfuscate or delay the announcement of a probe will only damage credibility and that is not in anyone’s interest.
The Jammu and Kashmir Home Department asked the Ganderbal district magistrate to get the inquiry conducted within seven days.
The Home Department in a communication to the district magistrate referred to the encounter that took place at Arhama Ganderbal on April 1, 2026, resulting in the death of Rashid Ahmad Mughal son of late Gull Zaman Mughal, resident of Chuntwaliwar Lar, Ganderbal.
The Home Department requested that a thorough and impartial magisterial inquiry be conducted into the matter to ascertain the facts and circumstances leading to the death of Rashid Ahmad Mughal. The inquiry is to be completed within seven days and the report submitted to the Home Department.
