Jammu, Jul 31 (KNO): Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday visited the bereaved family of a tribal youth, who was allegedly killed in a cross-firing incident when police were chasing suspected peddlers in Jammu City and stated that accountability and the rule of law must prevail.
Parvez Ahmed (21), a Gujjar youth hailing from the Nikki Tawi area of Jammu, was allegedly killed in crossfire when the police claimed that they were chasing drug peddlers in Satwari area on July 24.
His killing sparked protests by the community, with his family accusing the police of murdering an "innocent" man in a "staged encounter”.
As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Mufti called for a time-bound and impartial probe into the incident and said that such ‘extra-judicial killings’ have no place in a democratic society.
The former chief minister visited the bereaved family to express her condolences and share their grief.
The PDP president, who was accompanied by several party leaders, met the family and assured them of justice. “PDP president Mehbooba Mufti visited the family of Parvez Ahmed in Nikki Tawi, who fell victim to a staged encounter,” a party spokesperson said.
Extending her condolences, she assured them of full support in their pursuit of justice. Speaking to the media outside the family’s residence, Mufti expressed deep condolences and solidarity with the grieving family, emphasizing the need for justice through legal channels.
“Mohammad Parvez, a young man from the tribal community, was taken from his family in a tragic and questionable encounter. Labeling him a drug dealer without due process is unacceptable. We live in a democratic country where justice must be served through the rule of law, not through khap panchayats or kangaroo courts,” she stated.
Mufti urged the Director General of Police to take immediate cognizance of the incident and order a transparent investigation to uncover the truth. “Such extra-judicial killings have no place in a democratic society. Accountability and the rule of law must prevail,” she said.
“I sincerely hope the authorities will conduct a time-bound and impartial probe. We cannot allow a culture of extrajudicial encounters to take root, as it alienates the people and erodes trust in our institutions,” she added, warning that such actions deepen public mistrust and further distance communities from the state.
During her interaction with the family, Mufti listened to their concerns and assured them of the PDP’s full support in their pursuit of justice.
On July 28, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah visited the bereaved family of Parvez Ahmed and assured them of justice.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, who visited the deceased youth's house on July 27, called for an impartial inquiry into the incident.
NC leader Javed Rana met the family on Saturday. On July 29, former BJP president Ravinder Raina also visited the family and assured them of justice.
On July 25, the administration ordered a magisterial probe and registered an FIR into the killing of the tribal youth in crossfire. The police have suspended two cops and ordered a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT)—(KNO)