Mufti Alleges Foul Play after OGW Jumps in J&K River, Drowns; BJP Slams Her
In a shocking incident that has left many questions unanswered, an overground worker (OGW) jumped into a river in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir and drowned. The incident has sparked a heated debate, with former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti alleging foul play and the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) slaming her remarks.
According to reports, the OGW, identified as 25-year-old Ali Mohammad, was picked up by the Army two days ago from his home in Kulgam district. However, his family alleged that he was released by the Army on Tuesday evening, only to be found dead in the river the next morning.
Mufti, who was the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from 2015 to 2018, took to Twitter to express her concerns over the incident. “Shocking! Locals in Kulgam claim that the OGW who jumped into the river was picked up by the Army 2 days ago. What’s the truth? Is this another case of custodial killing or fake encounter? The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve answers,” she tweeted.
However, the BJP was quick to respond to Mufti’s remarks, with leader Sanju Verma saying that the former Chief Minister has a history of making inflammatory statements. “Mehbooba, after the Pahalgam terror attack, said, ‘Why blame Pakistan?’. Now, she’s questioning the Army’s actions. Can’t she just condemn the terror attack and support the forces?” Verma tweeted.
The BJP’s response was seen as a clear attempt to deflect attention from the alleged foul play and shift the focus on Mufti’s past statements. However, the incident has raised several questions about the treatment of OGWs by the security forces in Kashmir.
The OGWs, who are often seen as collaborators with terrorist groups, are frequently picked up by the security forces and later released or even killed in alleged encounters. The exact number of OGWs killed in fake encounters is difficult to determine, but human rights groups have consistently raised concerns about the treatment of OGWs by the security forces.
The incident has also sparked concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in Kashmir. The region has been under a strict military lockdown since August 2019, when the government revoked Article 370 of the Constitution, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
The lockdown has led to widespread human rights abuses, including arbitrary arrests, fake encounters, and custodial killings. The situation has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to a complete shutdown of the economy and a collapse of the healthcare system in the region.
The incident has also raised concerns about the lack of accountability among the security forces in Kashmir. Despite numerous allegations of human rights abuses, no senior officer has been held accountable for the atrocities committed by the forces.
The government has consistently denied allegations of human rights abuses, but the incident has once again raised questions about the transparency and accountability of the security forces in Kashmir.
In conclusion, the incident in Kulgam district has once again highlighted the deteriorating human rights situation in Kashmir. The alleged foul play and custodial killing of the OGW has raised concerns about the treatment of OGWs by the security forces and the lack of accountability among the forces.
The government must take immediate action to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice. The security forces must also be held accountable for their actions and there must be a transparent and independent investigation into allegations of human rights abuses.
