Srinagar, Apr 3 — Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the killing of a man in an alleged encounter in Ganderbal, following claims by the family that the deceased had no links to militancy.
The Lieutenant Governor’s office said the probe will examine all aspects of the incident and “ensure that justice is served”.
The order came amid concerns raised by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti over the circumstances of the killing, which took place on Tuesday night.
The family of the deceased, identified as Rashid Ahmad Mughal, has contested the official version, asserting that he was not involved in militancy.
Abdullah said the family’s claims should not be dismissed and called for a transparent investigation. “At the very least this encounter needs a transparent and time-bound probe with the facts made public,” he said on social media, adding that any delay or lack of clarity would “damage credibility”.
Mufti also questioned the official account, citing inconsistencies. “There are allegations that it was a fake encounter,” she said, adding that initial claims described the deceased as a foreign militant before identifying him as a local with alleged links.