Srinagar: Mirwaiz of Jammu and Kashmir, Umar Farooq, has strongly condemned the recent deaths of two persons in the Valley amid “large-scale arbitrary arrests”.
In a post on X, he highlighted the case of Gujjar tribal youth Makhan Din, who reportedly died by suicide after alleged custodial torture in Kathua, and truck driver Wasim Malla, who, according to the post, was shot dead by armed forces in Sopore.
Mirwaiz termed these incidents as deeply disturbing and part of the ongoing cycle of extra-judicial killings and human rights violations in JK. He stressed that such tragedies will not end unless accountability is ensured and justice is served.
A view of the sea
The post read, “After large scale arbitrary arrests throughout valley, deaths of two persons, one in Kathua of a Gujjar tribal youth Makhan Din by suicide after custodial torture, and the other in Sopore of truck driver Wasim Malla by shooting by forces during the past two days while highly condemnable is very disturbing. The unfortunate saga of extra judicial killings and rights violations of people of J&K continues as the perpetrators are never brought to book. This cycle will never cease until accountability is established and justice delivered.(sic)”
Earlier, in Kathua’s Billawar area, 25-year-old Makhan Din from Perody was reportedly detained on allegations of being an Over Ground Worker (OGW). He, according to reports and claims made by PDP leaders, including Mehbooba Mufti and Iltija Mufti, was subjected to brutal torture while in custody, allegedly forced into a confession, and later found dead under mysterious circumstances.
Following the incident, authorities sealed off the area and suspended internet services, escalating panic among residents.
In a separate incident in Baramulla’s Sopore, a civilian was shot dead by the Army after allegedly being chased for over 23 kilometers when the driver didn’t stop at a check point. Reacting to the incident, Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter, Iltija Mufti, expressed shock over what she termed as the ‘unbridled impunity’ of security forces.
Taking to social media platform X, Iltija wrote, “Shocking that after a civilian killing in Kathua dubbed as an ‘OGW’, another civilian from Sopore was shot dead by the Army. How strange that after chasing the truck for over 23 kms, they claim to have fired at the tyres but somehow misfired at him instead. Are Kashmiri lives so cheap? How long will you justify this unbridled impunity by pointing everyone with the needle of suspicion?”
The twin killings have sparked outrage across political and civil society circles, with calls for transparency and justice growing louder.
Meanwhile, Police urged people to maintain peace and order. The police said that it received information that an RR party had established a Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP) to intercept potential threats.
The police further stated that a suspicious civil truck was spotted moving at high speed. Despite repeated warnings, the vehicle did not stop and instead accelerated past the check post. Troops pursued the truck for over 23 km and, as per protocol, fired at the tyres to deflate them, forcing the vehicle to halt at Sangrama Chowk.
The statement added, “A detailed search was conducted, and the injured driver was immediately evacuated to GMC Baramulla, where he was declared dead.”
The police said that an FIR has been registered in police station Baramulla. The truck has been moved to the nearest police station for thorough search. Post mortem proceedings have been initiated to ascertain the cause of death.”
“We urge the public to maintain peace and refrain from spreading rumours or misinformation regarding this incident,” the statement reads.
“Any attempt to disrupt public order or spread false information will be dealt with strictly,” said the police.
