Uproar in J&K Assembly over Ganderbal encounter; Speaker says time-bound probe ordered by L-G

Uproar in J&K Assembly over Ganderbal encounter; Speaker confirms time-bound probe ordered by Lieutenant Governor amid calls for judicial inquiry.

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed uproar on the final day of the Budget Session on Saturday (April 4, 2026), with members of the National Conference, the Congress and the PDP demanding a judicial probe into the recent Ganderbal encounter.

The Army has claimed that the man killed in the encounter in Arhama forests on March 31 — identified as Ganderbal resident Rashid Ahmad Mughal — was a terrorist. However, his family alleged that he had no terror links and termed the encounter fake, while demanding the return of his body for proper burial.

As the House assembled, legislators from both treasury and opposition benches — barring the BJP — condemned the killing and demanded a statement from Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on the issue.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday (April 3, 2026) ordered a magisterial probe into the encounter and sought a report within seven days.

Raising the issue, NC MLA Mubarak Gul called for a strong message from the House against the killing of an "innocent" and stressed fixing accountability.

His party colleague and former Judge Hasnain Masoodi underlined that the right to a decent burial is fundamental and constitutionally recognised, and must be respected to uphold justice and transparency.