Gujar youth was killed in cold blood: Mehbooba 

Quick Summary

• Mehbooba Mufti, former J&K Chief Minister and PDP Chief, visited the family of Mohammad Parvez Ahmed, a 21-year-old Gujjar youth killed in a police shoot-out in Satwari on July 24, 2025.
• Ms. mufti termed it as “cold-blooded murder” and accused police of targeting the Gujjar-Bakerwal community, demanding a judicial probe into the encounter.
• Allegations of similar cases have emerged:

– Makhan Din committed suicide in February after claiming torture by security forces.
– Three youths found dead with alleged torture marks contradicting drowning claims by police (March).
– Altaf Hussain Lali was killed in what is alleged to be a staged encounter (April).
– Imtiyaz Ahmad Magray reportedly died during army custody (May).

• She highlighted systemic harassment faced by nomadic Gujjar-Bakerwal communities, including allegations of arbitrary detentions, accusations related to cattle migration issues, evictions from dhoks (temporary shelters), and lack of progress locating missing members.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The incident raises broader questions about the treatment and protection afforded to India’s marginalized communities such as the Gujjar-Bakerwals. Alleged patterns of violence combined with unresolved investigations are concerning for governance accountability and human rights preservation. Such incidents risk deepening distrust between local populations and authorities while eroding confidence in democratic institutions. Calls for judicial probes signify an urgency to establish transparency and justice but also underscore wider implications – ensuring structural changes that address community vulnerability during seasonal migrations or their interactions with law enforcement. Effective resolutions should aim not only at addressing individual incidents but also at promoting enduring trust across ethnic boundaries.

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