SRINAGAR (KIMS) — The Jammu and Kashmir administration, led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the encounter that took place in Arhama area of Ganderbal district on April 1, 2026.
According to an official communication issued by the Home Department, the District Magistrate Ganderbal has been directed to conduct a thorough and impartial inquiry into the matter to ascertain the facts and circumstances leading to the death of Raashid Ahmad Mughal, son of Late Gull Zaman Mughal, a resident of Chuntwaliwar Lar in Ganderbal.
The order states that the inquiry should be completed within a period of seven days and the report submitted to the Home Department for further action.
The communication has been marked as “confidential” and “urgent.”
The order comes a day after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Member of Parliament from Srinagar Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti expressed concern over the incident and demanded an inquiry.
A day after the Army claimed to have killed a militant in Ganderbal, the family of the deceased on Thursday said that he was their son and had no links with militancy. The family also demanded registration of an FIR and a probe into the incident.
On Wednesday, the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Indian Army said that a militant was killed during the operation in Arhama area of Ganderbal.
In a post on X, Chinar Corps said, Based on specific intelligence input, joint search operation was launched by Indian Army and J&K Police in Arahama of Ganderbal. During the search, vigilant troops observed suspicious activity. On being challenged, terrorists opened fire and troops retaliated.
During the night of 31 Mar 26, the cordon was tactically reorganised amidst the intermittent firing underway. The troops effectively retaliated with calibrated response resulting in one terrorist eliminated, it added. — (KIMS)