Ganderbal: Police on Wednesday confirmed that the death of a youth, initially suspected to have drowned in the Power Canal, Ganderbal, was in fact a planned murder carried out by his own friends.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ganderbal, Muhammad Khalil Poswal, addressed a press conference, stating that the deceased youth, identified as 22-year-old Ajaz Ahmed Rather, son of Ghulam Muhammad Rather of Sultan Colony Kangan, was strangulated before his body was dumped in the canal. The revelation came after hours of rescue efforts and an intensive investigation that followed the recovery of the body.
SSP said that Ajaz Ahmed had been playing cricket with two of his acquaintances, identified as Niyazul Haq and Moieen, when tensions and enmity between them escalated. “The two accused purchased a wire, which has been clearly captured in CCTV footage, and used it to strangulate Ajaz Ahmed. After committing the act, they threw his body into the Power Canal,” SSP Poswal said.
The district police chief further confirmed that the wire used in the murder has been recovered, while strangulation marks are visible on the neck of the victim, making it evident that this was not an accident but a deliberate killing. “Scientific and forensic methods will be employed to strengthen the case, and we are hopeful of securing a conviction against the accused,” he added.
The body of the deceased was retrieved after a gruelling 12-hour operation by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and police teams. Locals in Kangan and adjoining areas have been left shaken by the incident. Dozens of people gathered near the canal as the rescue operation was underway, anxiously waiting for updates. Many expressed disbelief that a casual cricket game could end in such a brutal act of violence.
SSP Poswal, while addressing the larger social impact, said the case should serve as a wake-up call. “It is unfortunate that boys have gone to such an extent. We appeal to parents and society to watch over the behaviour of their children and guide them in the right direction,” he remarked.
Police have registered a formal case of murder, and both accused are under custody. Investigators are now piecing together the sequence of events that led to the crime.
The case is being handled with utmost seriousness, and law enforcement agencies are determined to ensure justice. “We will leave no stone unturned to bring the culprits to justice,” SSP Poswal reiterated. [KNT]
