Kulgam, May 4 — A 22-year-old youth from Tangmarg in north Kashmir was ‘found dead’ in a river in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Saturday, amid a heightened crackdown following the recent deadly attack in Pahalgam.
Officials said in a statement that the deceased was an alleged Over Ground Worker (OGW) who died by suicide. According to the statement, he jumped into the Vishaw Nallah during a cordon and search operation (CASO) while being taken to identify a suspected militant hideout.
“He confessed knowledge of a hideout sheltering two Pakistani militants,” they said.
“Today, while locating a second hideout, he jumped into the river, likely in an attempt to escape, and died by suicide.” The operation was reportedly under drone surveillance and was being video recorded.
The youth’s body was later recovered from the river.
However, his death has sparked concern among locals and political leaders, with questions raised over the circumstances leading to his ‘disappearance and subsequent death.’
Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, citing local accounts, said the youth had been missing for two days and was last seen in the custody of forces.
Mufti linked the broader atmosphere of fear to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, stating that it had disrupted peace and emboldened targeting of civilians.
“If one act of violence can shake the system—leading to arbitrary arrests, home demolitions, and harassment of innocents—then the perpetrators have already achieved their goal,” she said.
Mehbooba Mufti also called for an impartial inquiry, stating that such incidents follow a “disturbing pattern” in Kashmir.
“These repeated and unaccounted deaths in custody or during operations deepen the trust deficit and alienation,” she said.
Senior National Conference leader Sakina Itoo visited the bereaved family and demanded a judicial probe.
During her visit to the bereaved family, Itoo too alleged foul play in the death of Imtiyaz Magray and assured the locals that justice would be delivered.
She said Magray came from an underprivileged background and lived in a modest two-room house.
“The incident has terrified locals in the area. The truth must come out, and facts must be separated from fiction. He had no involvement in any wrongdoing. Harassing or torturing innocent people without evidence is unacceptable,” Itoo said.
Earlier in the day, Itoo said the family was informed that a body had been recovered from the river—later identified as Imtiyaz. “It is a painful incident and a shared tragedy. We stand with the family in this time of sorrow,” she added.
“It is wrong to pick up local youth without due process. A probe must be initiated,” she said.
While officials have presented suicide as the cause of death, such incidents—where deaths occur in custody or during operations—follow a familiar pattern in Kashmir and are often buried under calls for probes. Even when inquiries are initiated, they follow no justice or accountability, as seen in numerous past cases.