The death of two civilians under ‘mysterious’ circumstances in the last 24 hours in two separate incidents has once again brought back the issue of restoring ‘statehood’ to Jammu and Kashmir to the center stage.
In the first episode, a truck driver hailing from Sopore was killed in a firing incident after he jumped the security checkpoint in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Wednesday.
In the second incident, a 25-year-old man was found dead in the Billawar area of Kathua district after he was questioned for being an Over Ground Worker (OGW) of terrorists.
Describing both incidents as ‘very unfortunate,’ Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s advisor Nasir Aslam Wani Thursday said the situation is not so good and is not within our control.
Referring to the recent high-level security review meeting chaired by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, Nasir Aslam Wani told reporters in Srinagar, when such incidents take place you people come to us and hold us accountable.
“You should ask the Lieutenant Governor about all this. The elected government is not taken into confidence when it comes to security-related matters. The Chief Minister was not even consulted during the recent high-level security review meeting about the ground situation in the region. That is why we say ‘statehood to Jammu and Kashmir’ should be restored at the earliest” .”When we are not part of the decision-making process on security-related matters, when we are not implementing any decision on the ground, then we should not be held accountable”, Wani asserted.
Meanwhile, the District Magistrate of Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death of Makhan, son of Murid, a resident of Billawar. The decision comes in response to the alleged custodial killing of an individual.
According to an official order issued today, Anil Kumar (JKAS), Tehsildar Lohai Malhar, has been appointed as the Inquiry Magistrate to investigate the case and ascertain the actual cause of death. He has been directed to submit a detailed report within five days.
In Srinagar, PDP Chief and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also alleged foul play in the matter. She posted on X, “Makhan Din, aged 25 from Perody, Billawar, was detained by the SHO of Billawar on false charges of being an Over Ground Worker (OGW). He was reportedly subjected to brutal thrashing and torture, forced into a confession, and tragically found dead today. The area has been sealed off, and internet services have been cut, leading to widespread panic. There’s an ongoing crackdown, with more individuals being picked up. This incident appears to follow a troubling pattern of targeting innocent youths on fabricated charges. I urge the DGP to initiate an immediate investigation”.
In Baramulla, truck driver Waseem Ahmad Mir (35), a resident of Goripora, Bomai in Sopore was killed in a firing incident when a vehicle carrying apple boxes was signaled to stop at the security checkpoint set up by security forces. The driver was critically injured in the incident and succumbed to his injuries.
Later, Srinagar-based Chinar Corps in a post on X said, “On 05 Feb 2025, based on a very specific intelligence input about the movement of terrorists, a Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP) was established by the security forces. One speeding suspicious civil truck was spotted. When challenged, the truck didn’t stop despite repeated warnings instead accelerated further while crossing the check post. Alert troops pursued the vehicle for over 23 km. Shots were fired aiming at tyres to deflate which forced the vehicle to halt at Sangrama Chowk. Consequent to a detailed search, the injured driver was immediately evacuated to GMC Baramulla by the security forces where he was declared dead. The fully loaded truck has been sent to the nearest police station. Detailed search of the truck in police custody is underway and investigation on antecedents of the suspect is in progress.”