Jammu, April 4: Legislators in the Jammu and Kashmir legislative Assembly on Saturday demanded a judicial inquiry into the killing of a man in the Ganderbal forests, after the Army claimed he was a militant while his family identified him as a civilian.
The incident, involving the killing of Rashid Mughal in a forest area of Ganderbal, has triggered political and public concern, with questions raised over the circumstances of the operation and the identification of the deceased.
The issue has gained prominence as the Lieutenant Governor has already ordered a magisterial inquiry, while the Chief Minister and several legislators have called for a probe, prompting demands in the Assembly for a judicial investigation instead.
Congress MLA Nizamuddin Bhat said a magisterial inquiry would not be sufficient in such a serious matter.
“There is a need for a judicial inquiry, not a magisterial inquiry, because a DC-level officer remains under pressure. This is a serious issue and indicates how lives are being treated,” he said.
Another Congress leader and MLA from Wagoora-Kreeri, Irfan Hafiz Lone, said that the Ganderbal incident family should be listened to, and a time-bound, result-oriented, fair, and genuine inquiry should be conducted so that the truth comes out.
He said, “If tomorrow it comes to light that someone has committed a crime under the law, we want the strictest possible punishment for them so that it serves as a deterrent in the future, and so that no one takes the law into their own hands. Such punishment should be given.”
He said, “We also demanded a judicial inquiry, and the family should be listened to. The body should be handed over for the last rites.”
National Conference MLA Mubarak Gul said such incidents should not take place and stressed the need to protect innocent civilians.
“There should be a difference between a militant and an innocent person. Our Home Minister should send a message,” he said.
NC MLA Hasnain Masoodi said the body of the deceased had not been handed over to the family.
“Under the Constitution, it is the right of the family to perform the last rites. If a probe has been ordered, the body should be returned,” he said.
Another NC legislator, Saifullah Mir, termed the incident a grave injustice and also demanded a judicial inquiry, calling for safeguards in such operations.
The Assembly witnessed strong reactions from members across party lines, with repeated calls for accountability and clarity over the incident.
Another National Conference leader and MLA from Sopore, Irshad Rasool Kar, said, “The government has already initiated a magisterial inquiry, and today all National Conference legislators demanded that the body should be handed over to the family for last rites.”
Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and Pulwama MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra sought a transparent probe into the Ganderbal encounter and action against those found guilty, saying such incidents should not recur in the Kashmir Valley.
MLA Parra said the inquiry ordered by the administration was a welcome step but stressed the need for accountability. “Whoever is involved should face action. We have seen such incidents before, and they should not be allowed to happen again.”
Referring to the rights of the innocent, the MLA said the government must take steps to prevent such incidents in the future, adding that lapses by individuals “acting in the name of militancy” should be addressed.
Another Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and Budgam MLA Aga Syed Muntazir termed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s direction for a high-level inquiry into the recent killing in Ganderbal district a “positive development,” asserting that such an order from the head of the unified command was unprecedented in Jammu and Kashmir’s history.
Referring to the incident, the MLA said the victim’s family had expressed “concern, reservations, and apprehensions” over the matter.
“The Lieutenant Governor has initiated an inquiry to investigate this case within a week. Let’s see what the report says. I would like to commend the way the LG has ordered the inquiry,” Muntazir said.
Describing the development as significant, he added, “This is the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir that the head of the state and the head of the unified command has ordered such an inquiry.”
The PDP leader, however, said the report was yet to be released. “Let’s see what happens in the report,” he added, reiterating his praise for the LG’s intervention.
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