Srinagar, 1 August (H.S.): Former J&K Chief Minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti today visited the bereaved family of a youth, Parvez Ahmed who was allegedly killed in police firing while chasing suspected drug- peddlers in Jammu and said that accountability and the rule of law must prevail.

Parvez, a Gujjar youth hailing from the Nikki Tawi area of Jammu, was allegedly killed in firing when the police claimed that they were chasing drug peddlers in Satwari area. His killing has sparked protests by the community, with his family accusing the police of murdering an “innocent” boy in a `fake encounter’.

Former Chief Minister called for a time-bound and impartial probe into the incident and said that such “extra-judicial killings” have no place in a democratic society.

Mehbooba, who arrived here from Srinagar, straightway went to the house of the deceased youth to express her condolences and share the family’s grief. The PDP president, who was accompanied by several party leaders, met the family and assured them of justice.

Extending her condolences, she assured them of full support in their pursuit of justice.

“Such extra-judicial killings have no place in a democratic society. Accountability and the rule of law must prevail,” she said.

Later talking to media-persons Mehbooba Mufti condemned the cold-blooded murder of Parvez Ahmed, dismissing the police’s claim of his involvement in drug- peddling as a baseless pretext for extrajudicial killing. “Mohammad Parvez was executed in a fake encounter by those meant to protect him. This is state-sponsored terror targeting the Gujjar-Bakerwal communities. I demand a time-bound judicial probe to expose the culprits and ensure justice,” she stated.

“The killing of Parvez is part of a chilling pattern of violence, with over a dozen Gujjar-Bakerwal deaths in 2024-25 under suspicious circumstances. In February 2025, Makhan Din, a 25-year-old Gujjar from Kathua Bilawar, died by suicide after recording a video alleging torture by security forces over supposed Pakistani contacts, a claim the police denied. In March 2025, three Gujjar youths-Showkat Ahmad Bhajad, Riyaz Ahmad Bhajad, and Mukhtar Ahmad Awan-from Kulgam, who went missing on their way to a wedding, were found dead in the Vishaw River, with families alleging torture marks contradicting police claims of drowning. In April Altaf Hussain Lali, a Gujjar from Bandipora, branded an “overground worker” (OGW) of militants, was killed in what his family claims was a staged encounter. In May Imtiyaz Ahmad Magray, from Tangmarg, Kulgam, reportedly in army custody, allegedly jumped into the Vishaw Nallah stream in Kulgam’s Aharbal Wattoo area during a search operation, resulting in his death,” she alleged.

The nomadic Gujjar-Bakerwal communities face relentless harassment during their seasonal cattle migrations. Reports from 2025 document arbitrary accusations of drug peddling and cattle smuggling, obstruction of migration routes, and forced evictions, such as the 2020 demolition of Bakerwal dhoks in Pahalgam, she added.

It is pertinent to mention here that on July 28, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the bereaved family of Parvez Ahmed and assured them of justice. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, who visited the deceased youth’s house on July 27, called for an impartial inquiry into the incident. On July 29, former BJP president Ravinder Raina also visited the family and assured them of justice.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar