Under opposition hearth, Omar govt orders magisterial probe into Gujjar brothers’ deaths | India News

SRINAGAR: J&Okay’s Omar Abdullah-led National Conference (NC) govt introduced Tuesday a magisterial probe into the deaths of two tribal Gujjar brothers whose our bodies had been recovered just lately after a month of disappearance in Kulgam district.
Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary made the announcement throughout a go to to Kulgam and mentioned the govt would push for a judicial inquiry — because the households of the deceased have been demanding — by way of lieutenant-governor (LG) Manoj Sinha. Nasir Aslam Wani, CM Omar’s adviser, accompanied Choudhary.
Showkat Ahmad Bajad’s physique was present in a decomposed situation on March 16 in a river in Kulgam. Brother Riyaz’s corpse was discovered close by on March 13. Showkat and Riyaz had been lacking since Feb 13. There continues to be no hint of Mukhtar Ahmad Awan village, a relative of the brothers who had accompanied them to a marriage in Mir Bazar space of the identical district the day all three went lacking. The three labored in a brick kiln.
The magisterial probe was introduced amid allegations by opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the NC govt was not appearing on the problem. PDP MLA Waheed Parra had on Monday described deaths of Gujjars “as part of a pattern”. Parra cited one other youth’s suicide after alleged police torture in Kathua final month in addition to the most recent deaths in Kulgam, saying all ought to probed as they had been tied to at least one particular group.
The residence division comes underneath LG after J&Okay turned a Union Territory following the Aug 2019 annulment of particular standing underneath Article 370. Since Omar took oath as CM in Oct 2024, he and his govt have repeatedly pleaded helplessness every time legislation and order and safety associated points floor.
When BJP members created a ruckus just lately in meeting over police baton-charge on every day wagers in Jammu, Omar asserted he was not accountable for police and requested the MLAs to boost the matter with LG.
On Tuesday, adviser Wani mentioned the Omar govt had already appealed to LG Sinha for a judicial probe into the most recent case. “Whether in Kathua or here in Kulgam, we don’t know anything (about the exact cause of deaths). That is why we have ordered a magisterial probe,” Wani mentioned. Many MLAs have additionally pressed for motion in opposition to cops for allegedly beating up protesting ladies mourners in Kulgam after Showkat’s physique was discovered on Sunday.