Controversy over death of youth in Kashmir military operation, family demands investigation

International Desk: PNN

Tensions and controversy have emerged following the death of 32-year-old Rashid Ahmed Mughal in a military operation in Ganderbal district of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indian Army claims he was a “suspected militant” killed in an encounter during an intelligence-based operation. However, his family and locals have called it a “fake encounter.”

The incident occurred on March 31 in the Arahama area. The army said the operation was based on intelligence reports and involved an exchange of fire with militants.

However, local residents say it was a staged extrajudicial killing.

Rashid was a commerce graduate and helped villagers with government documentation and other tasks, according to his family.

His elder brother Ajaz Ahmed Mughal said Rashid left home on the day of the incident for routine work and never returned. Later, police informed the family that he was identified as a suspected militant.

The family alleges that his body was so badly disfigured that identification was difficult, and they recognized him only by his legs.

His brother said, “He had no criminal record.”

The incident triggered protests across Kashmir, with locals demanding an impartial investigation. Authorities announced a magisterial inquiry, but no final report has been released yet.

Human rights groups say extrajudicial killings and disappearances have been reported for years in Kashmir, often linked to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which limits accountability.

Experts say the Kashmir issue has become increasingly complex due to ongoing security operations and allegations of rights violations.

The family says they have prepared his grave and are waiting for the body, insisting that “without truth, this loss can never be healed.”