Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday refused to enter into the debate on whether a judicial or magisterial probe should be ordered into the Ganderbal encounter, and justified the probe ordered by the lieutenant governor, stating that a prompt inquiry was needed.
The Army has claimed that the man killed in the encounter in Arhama forests on March 31 — identified as Ganderbal resident Rashid Ahmad Mughal — was a terrorist. However, his family alleged that he had no terror links and termed the encounter fake, while demanding the return of his body for proper burial.
“I will not get into the debate over whether there should be a judicial probe or a magisterial probe,” Abdullah told reporters in reply to a question on the issue.
Highlighting procedural delays, the chief minister said ordering a judicial inquiry often takes considerable time.
“The issue with a judicial inquiry is that it takes a lot of time. First of all, sitting judges are not easily available nowadays, and the Supreme Court has also placed considerable restrictions on such appointments. Even bringing in a retired judge is not that easy,” he said.
Advocating a swift process, Abdullah said, “I believe that the inquiry should be conducted without wasting time. It should be initiated immediately, and if there is truth in the matter, it should be brought before the public.”
Endorsing the magisterial probe ordered by the lieutenant governor, he said, “I think the approach adopted by the lieutenant governor is right. Let the magisterial inquiry do its work, and whatever the truth is, it will come out before the people.”
Referring to the broader situation in Iran, Abdullah took note of remarks made by the President of the United States and questioned the tone of his public communication.
“The kind of language used by the US President and his office: does it suit him or his office? Is such rhetoric appropriate for someone in that position? The kind of words being used are such that even you and I cannot repeat them without censoring them in a broadcast,” he said, adding that the dignity of the office must be maintained.
On the issue of war, the chief minister expressed concern over the prolonged conflict. “We are all concerned about it. The longer it continues, the more difficult it will become for all of us,” he said.
Reiterating the need for peace, Abdullah said, “We all hope that a ceasefire is announced as soon as possible, that the war comes to an end, and the current situation stabilises and improves.”
Meanwhile, the family of the man, killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district last week, recorded their statements as part of the inquiry ordered by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha following allegations that it was a “fake encounter”.
LG Sinha on Friday ordered a magisterial probe into the encounter in Arahama area of the central Kashmir’s 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, had raised questions about the encounter that took place on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday last week.
While the Army claimed that it had killed a local terrorist, the family of Rashid Ahmad Mughal stated that the deceased had no links to terrorism.
As part of the inquiry, statements were sought by the magistrate and the process to record the statements began on Monday.
“Notices were posted in our village, through the district administration, seeking to record statements. We came here to record our statements,” Mughal’s cousin, Imran Ahmad, told reporters outside the office of the district magistrate, Ganderbal.
Ahmad said hundreds of people, including women, were ready to record their statements “but since it would have been very difficult, only a few came today”.
“Others will come tomorrow, and then more the next day. We will all come to record our statements,” he added.
To a question whether there was any pressure on the family from the police or administration, Ahmad said there was no pressure.
“We are grateful to the police, and are hopeful of getting justice from the police, the district administration and the LG,” he said. The family demanded that Mughal’s body be returned for a proper burial.
“Our demand is that we want the body of our brother back. We also want that his killers be identified and the tag on him (of being a terrorist), which is totally a lie, be removed,” he said.
