The Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly witnessed heated arguments on Monday as lawmakers protested against police action against demonstrators who took to the streets following the recovery of the bodies of two tribal youths in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
A concerning pattern of mysterious deaths in the Gujjar community from Kathua to Budhal and now Kulgam in Jammu & Kashmir demands a thorough investigation, as community fear grows. @parawahid has raised the issue in the Assembly. pic.twitter.com/QvNuujxN4K
— Arif Amin (@ArifAmin__) March 17, 2025
Three civilians — Reyaz Ahmad and Showkat Ahmad from Chandian Pajan and Mukhtar Ahmad from Pratap Pora Lammer — went missing on February 13 after leaving their homes to attend a wedding at their maternal uncle’s house in Ashmuji Bhan, Kulgam. All three were from Rajouri and worked as labourers in Qazigund.
The tragic pattern of mysterious deaths continues in tribal areas. After Buddal, Kuthwa, and now Kulgam, families are left searching for answers. In Kulgam, Riyaz and Mohammad Showkat's bodies were found, but Mukhtar is still missing. Meanwhile, police action against innocent… pic.twitter.com/XAzHTxvPYJ
— Waheed Para (@parawahid) March 16, 2025
Showkat’s body was recovered by police from Vashov Nalla in Mah Ashmuji, Kulgam, on Sunday. His brother Riyaz’s body was found in the same nalla a few days earlier.
Despite contacting all relatives and friends, the families were unable to trace their whereabouts. They then filed a missing person complaint at Qazigund police station. After the bodies of the two brothers were recovered, their family and relatives alleged they had been murdered and staged a protest, demanding a judicial probe to uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable.
The issue was raised in the assembly as soon as question hour began. Surankote MLA Choudhary Muhammad Akram demanded strict action against police personnel accused of assaulting a woman who was protesting against the deaths.
“It is deeply concerning that a police officer kicked a woman. The house must condemn this act,” Akram said.
Legislators from the National Conference (NC), Congress, and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) joined the protest, calling for action against the responsible officers.
NC leader Nazir Gurezi criticised the police, asking, “Is this a police state? Can they shoot and arrest anyone at will? Is there no law to hold them accountable?”
The uproar intensified as NC legislators Javed Choudhary, Mian Mehar Ali, Javaid Mirchal, and Zaffar Ali Khatan attempted to storm the well of the House but were restrained by Marshals.
In response, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather informed the house that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had assured the protesting legislators that the matter would be addressed.
