Mufti Alleges Foul Play After OGW Jumps in J&K River, Drowns; BJP Slams Her
Recent events in Jammu and Kashmir have taken a disturbing turn, leaving many questions unanswered. In a shocking incident, an overground worker (OGW) jumped into the River Veshaw in Kulgam district and drowned. The tragic event has sparked a heated debate, with former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, alleging foul play and accusing the Army of involvement.
The incident occurred on Wednesday when the OGW, identified as 25-year-old Adil Ahmed, jumped into the river, reportedly to evade the security forces. Locals claimed that Ahmed was picked up by the Army two days prior to the incident. The authorities have, however, denied any involvement in the incident, stating that they were only carrying out a routine operation in the area.
Mehbooba Mufti, who was the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from 2015 to 2018, took to social media to express her concern and suspicion over the circumstances surrounding Ahmed’s death. She tweeted, “Shocking to hear about the death of an OGW in Kulgam. Locals claim he was picked up by the Army 2 days ago. Foul play suspected. When will the truth come out?”
The tweet sparked a heated reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with leader Sanju Verma terming Mufti’s allegations as “baseless” and “mischievous”. Verma, in a tweet, recalled Mufti’s reaction to the Pahalgam terror attack in 2017, where a group of labourers were killed. Mufti had then said, “Why blame Pakistan?” Verma tweeted, “Mehbooba, after the Pahalgam terror attack, said, ‘Why blame Pakistan?’ Today, she’s saying the Army picked up an OGW. How convenient to shift the blame!”
The BJP leader’s tweet was in response to Mufti’s earlier statement, where she had alleged that the Army’s involvement in Ahmed’s death was not the first time such an incident had occurred. She claimed that there were several instances where OGWs and civilians were picked up by the security forces and later found dead.
The controversy surrounding Ahmed’s death has raised questions about the involvement of the security forces in such incidents. Human rights activists and civil society groups have long accused the security forces of adopting extrajudicial methods to deal with suspected militants and OGWs. While the authorities have denied any involvement in Ahmed’s death, the incident has once again highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in such cases.
The incident has also sparked concerns about the safety and security of OGWs and civilians in the region. There have been several instances in the past where OGWs and civilians have been killed or disappeared, with the authorities often denying any involvement. The lack of transparency and accountability has only added to the concerns and mistrust among the local population.
As the investigation into Ahmed’s death continues, it remains to be seen whether the authorities will be able to provide a convincing explanation for the circumstances surrounding the incident. The controversy has also put the spotlight on the need for greater transparency and accountability in the functioning of the security forces in the region.
