Srinagar, April 4: An ATM card recovered from the body of a man killed in an “encounter” in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on April 1 helped investigators establish his identity, official sources said.
The Army had claimed on April 1 that a terrorist was killed during a joint operation with police at Arhama in Ganderbal. However, the slain man’s family identified him as Raashid Ahmad Mughal, 28, a commerce postgraduate, and asserted he had no terror links, demanding a probe into what they termed a “fake” encounter.
Amid the controversy, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the encounter, promising justice. Several political leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, had also called for an investigation.
Official sources said the deceased’s face was badly damaged during the encounter, making identification difficult. During a search of the body, police recovered an ATM card, which became the key document leading to his identification.
Using the ATM card details, police traced the identity of the deceased and contacted his family. His brother, Ajaz Ahmad Mughal, was immediately approached by Jammu and Kashmir Police and questioned about Raashid. He was later taken to the Police Control Room (PCR), where he identified the body as that of his brother, Raashid Mughal.
Police have meanwhile questioned several people, including another brother, Imtiyaz Ahmad, to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the killing. Investigators are also examining how the slain man reached the location where the “encounter” took place.
UNI
