Srinagar: The death of a 23-year-old youth in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district has triggered demands for a probe from top political leaders, including former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and J&K Minister Sakina Itoo.
The police, however, said that the deceased, Imtiyaz Ahmad Magray, committed suicide after allegedly confessing knowledge of a militant hideout.
Magray's body was recovered from a river, two days after residents alleged he was picked up by the Army, said opposition PDP President and former J &K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who demanded a probe.
“Magray had confessed about knowledge of the hideout with the presence of two Pakistan terrorists. This morning, when a cordon and search operation was launched, he went to the hideout spot (near the river bed) under close supervision via a videographed drone. Consequently, he jumped into Vishaw Nalla & probably tried to escape via river route,” a police officer said on Sunday.
“It is also learnt that he was aware of the first terrorist hideout that was busted by security forces in the Tangmarg forest, where contact was established on April 23. Today while locating the second terrorist hideout, he jumped into the river and died by suicide,” he added.
J&K Police has now released a drone video, which reportedly shows Magray stepping toward the edge of the river before jumping into the river and later swept away by the current.
Earlier in the day, Mehbooba Mufti called for a probe into alleged foul play after the youth’s body was recovered.
“Yet another body has been recovered from a river in Kulgam, raising serious allegations of foul play. Local residents allege that Imtiyaz Magray was picked up by the army two days ago and now mysteriously his body has surfaced in the river,” Mehbooba said in a post on X.
Mehbooba said the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam appears to be a calculated attempt to derail the fragile peace, disrupt tourism in Kashmir and undermine communal harmony across the country.
“If a single act of violence can shake the entire system, triggering arbitrary arrests, home demolitions, and the targeting of innocent civilians, then the perpetrators have already achieved their objective. Allegations of misconduct, whether in the Bandipora encounter or in this latest incident in Kulgam are deeply troubling and warrant a thorough, impartial investigation,” she said.
J&K Minister Sakina Itoo said a judicial probe needs to be conducted to probe the death.
She said Magray was a poor labour and had returned home 15 days ago.
“When people woke up early in the morning, they were informed that a body was lying in a nallah …Police revered the body.. It needs to be investigated as he was picked and how his body was found in a nallah. The poor family and residents are frightened as to what is happening,” Itoo said.
The Minister said facts should come out and a judicial probe should be held.
“They are a poor family and were not involved in anything,’ she said.
Following the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 25 tourists and a resident, security forces have intensified their crackdown across the Kashmir Valley, targeting militants and their Over Ground Workers (OGWs).
(Inputs from UNI)
