Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah handed over compassionate appointment letters to 124 beneficiaries of Jammu division. File | Photo credit: PTI
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday (April 6, 2026) demanded that the judicial inquiry into the Ganderbal encounter, in which one local was killed, “be made public as soon as it is completed”.
“The investigation should continue without wasting time. The truth and facts should come out before the public. Let the investigation do its job and the truth will be presented to the people,” Mr Abdullah said.
On April 1, the Army claimed to have killed a terrorist in Ganderbal’s Arhama forest area during a cordon and search operation. The army said a weapon and ammunition were also found at the site of the encounter. However, one family claimed that the slain was a “civilian with no militant links” and identified him as Raashid Ahmad Mughal, a resident of Chuntwaliwar Ganderbal’s Lar village.
Mr. Abdullah appreciated the path taken by J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and termed the “magisterial inquiry as an appropriate step”. “I don’t want to go into whether it should be a judicial or a magisterial inquiry. It is not easy to get a judge these days and the Supreme Court of India has imposed restrictions to a large extent. Even appointing a retired judge is not that easy,” Abdullah said.
Meanwhile, the J&K Chief Minister handed over compassionate appointment letters to 124 beneficiaries from Jammu division.
“Getting a civil service post is often the happiest day of life, but in your case it comes after the loss of a loved one. The trauma you endure is much greater than any exam. In many ways, it is more difficult than passing even the toughest competitive exams,” he said.
Mr Abdullah said he decided to personally hand over the appointment letters to express the government’s empathy and solidarity with the affected families. “We could have sent these orders to your homes, but I wanted to be here to assure you that the government stands with you at this difficult time,” he added.
Published – 07 Apr 2026 03:54 IST
