Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, April 9 

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday urged full transparency in the investigation of a disputed encounter in Ganderbal, welcoming the administration’s decision to order a time-bound inquiry into allegations that the operation was staged.

Speaking to reporters, CM Omar said the swift response by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who approved a magisterial probe, reflected a willingness to address the issue openly rather than suppress it.

“The truth should not be hidden,” he said, adding that the findings of the inquiry would be made public once completed.

The investigation follows a March 31 encounter in the Arhama forests of Ganderbal, where the Army said it had killed a militant. 

The family of the deceased, identified as Rashid Ahmad Mughal, has disputed that account, alleging the killing was staged and calling for the return of his body.

Officials said the inquiry is already underway and is expected to conclude within a week.

CM Omar said that while security operations remain a sensitive necessity, incidents that raise questions must be addressed with accountability to maintain public trust. 

He also acknowledged the limits of the elected government’s authority under the Union Territory framework, noting that law and order, along with legislation such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, remains under the jurisdiction of the central administration.

The CM said that such incidents inevitably complicate official claims of normalcy, particularly in a region where security concerns persist. 

Recent encounters involving suspected militants, he said, raise broader questions about infiltration and stability.

“Transparency and truth,” he said, “must prevail.”