Return mortal remains of Ganderbal man Rashid Mughal to family: Iltija Mufti

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti on Friday raised questions over the Arhama ‘encounter’, seeking transparency and a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding the incident while demanding the return of the body of Rashid Ahmad Mughal.

Iltija Mufti on Friday visited the family of Rashid Mughal at Chuntwaliwar in Ganderbal district. Mufti said that the “civilian killed in a recent encounter in Ganderbal was a local resident and a worker of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)”, questioning claims about his identity and demanding the return of his body to the family.

Mufti displayed what she said was the domicile certificate of the deceased and urged that responsibility be fixed if any wrongdoing is established. She demanded that the body of Rashid Mughal be handed over to his family and said those found guilty should face action.

Talking to media persons after visiting the family of Rashid Ahmad Mughal at Chuntwaliwar in Ganderbal, the PDP leader said that Rashid Mughal was innocent and claimed that he was a PDP worker. “Rashid Ahmad Mughal was innocent, and he was associated with PDP; his body must be handed over to the family within one week,” demanded PDP leader Iltija Mufti. She said if the body wasn’t returned within a week , the family members will hit streets. Iltija Mufti thanked Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for ordering a probe into the Ganderbal encounter case, while criticising the Omar Abdullah-led NC government for a “shameful lack of outreach” to the victim’s family. Iltija Mufti questioned the absence of top NC leaders, including the chief minister, from the deceased’s family.

Mufti while welcoming the inquiry ordered by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and said that the time bound inquiry will expose those who killed him and justice should be served to the victims family. “We demand return of Rashid Mughal’s body and seek probe findings, as an innocent civilian was killed,” says Iltija Mufti. She expressed appreciation for the support extended by Jammu and Kashmir Police to the family. Iltija Mufti was accompanied by party leaders from Ganderbal including Bashir Ahmad Mir, Syed Jamat Ali, Qaisar Sultan, Sahil Farooq and Najmu Saqib.