Ganderbal Encounter: Report Expected Within A Week: CM

2026-04-09 08:04:13

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Srinagar- Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday lauded Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for promptly ordering an inquiry into allegations that the Ganderbal encounter was fake, and said the report is expected within a week.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, Omar said there was no attempt to conceal the incident and appreciated the swift response from the Lt Governor in ordering a time-bound and transparent probe.

“The good thing is that there was no attempt to hide anything. The honourable L-G promptly accepted our request for a time-bound and transparent probe into the incident,” he said.

The Army had claimed that a man killed in an encounter in the Arhama forests of Ganderbal on March 31 was a militant. However, the family of the deceased, identified as Rashid Ahmad Mughal, has contested the claim, alleging that he had no terror links and that the encounter was staged. They have also demanded the return of his body for proper burial.

The Chief Minister said a magisterial inquiry has been instituted and is currently underway.“The inquiry is going on. Once they complete it, the report will be made public. Our primary focus should be to avoid such incidents. But if it happens, the truth should not be hidden. People should be told the truth,” he said.

Read Also Family of Man Killed in Ganderbal Encounter Records Statements Ganderbal Encounter: Omar Backs Probe Ordered By LG

Responding to a question on whether such incidents raise concerns over the continuation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Omar said Jammu and Kashmir, being a Union Territory, does not have jurisdiction over such matters.

“Forget AFSPA, even the law and order does not fall in our jurisdiction at the moment,” he said.

He added that such incidents inevitably raise questions over claims of normalcy in the region. Referring to a recent encounter in which two Pakistani militants were killed, Abdullah said concerns would arise about how militants managed to infiltrate.

“Such things should not happen in a normal situation,” he said.

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