Family exposes killing of innocent youth in Gandarbal fake encounter
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Indian forces’ continued use of fake encounters to eliminate innocent Kashmiri youth has once again come to light, with a fresh case reported from Ganderbal district.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Indian Army, paramilitary forces and the Special Operations Group killed a youth during a cordon and search operation, as claimed by the Indian army, in the Arahama area in the district, the other day. The forces claimed that the slain youth was a militant, attempting to justify the operation.
However, the victim’s family has categorically rejected the Indian army’s version, identifying the deceased as Rashid Ahmad Mughal, a civilian with no connection to militancy.
His brother, Ajaz Ahmad, said Rashid had left home in the morning but did not return, and the family later discovered his body. He expressed shock over the killing, stating that his brother was completely innocent and raising suspicion by noting that the clothes on the body were different from what Rashid had been wearing when he left home. The family has demanded a thorough investigation into the incident, seeking justice and accountability. They said they are approaching the authorities to formally register a case.
Meanwhile, Indian authorities have failed to provide clarity regarding the identity or alleged affiliation of the victim. Even as the Indian army claimed that a “terrorist” was killed, no concrete evidence has been presented to substantiate the claim, while police have yet to issue an official statement. Officials, including Defence PRO Lt Col Manoj Sahu, refrained from commenting on the family’s statement, further deepening doubts over the authenticity of the encounter.
Earlier, the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps had stated that troops opened fire after observing “suspicious activity” during the operation. However, such routine justifications are increasingly being questioned by locals, who view these operations as staged attempts to cover up extrajudicial killings. Locals say the incident is part of a larger conspiracy in which innocent Kashmiris are branded as militants after being killed, in an apparent bid to legitimize the use of force and suppress dissent in the occupied territory. They urged independent investigations into such killings to expose the reality behind these so-called encounters.
