The killing of a 21-year-old tribal youth, Mohammad Parvez, in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has sparked widespread outrage and led to the suspension of two police officers. The incident occurred on Thursday evening in the Sure Chak area of Satwari, Jammu. Police initially claimed that Parvez was killed in a crossfire while they were chasing suspected drug peddlers. However, Parvez's family and community strongly deny these allegations, asserting his innocence and labeling the incident a murder.
According to police reports, the police team was fired upon, and in the ensuing exchange of fire, Parvez was killed while another individual escaped. However, Parvez's relatives maintain that he was an innocent man with no involvement in any wrongdoing. They allege that the police shot him without justification. Parvez's wife and other female relatives have also denied his involvement in drug peddling.
The killing has triggered widespread protests and condemnation from various political leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, former CM Mehbooba Mufti, and National Conference MP Mian Altaf Ahmed. They have called for an impartial and thorough probe into the incident. Abdullah described the incident as "highly unfortunate and deeply regrettable," emphasizing the need for calibrated use of force by the police. Mufti stated that even if the victim was involved in drug peddling, justice should be served through the rule of law. Mian Altaf Ahmed called it a "broad daylight murder".
In response to the public outcry, the J&K government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death of Mohammad Parvez. The inquiry will be conducted by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Jammu South, who has been directed to submit a detailed report to the District Magistrate within two weeks. The Jammu district administration has also constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by SDPO Domana Mudassar Hussain to investigate the allegations made by the deceased's family.
Furthermore, the police have suspended Head Constable Baljinder Singh and Selection Grade Constable Pawan Singh with immediate effect. They will remain posted in the District Police Lines (DPL), Jammu, and will deposit their uniform articles in the DPL Store. However, they are entitled to draw subsistence allowances as admissible under the rules.
The police initially blamed local media for portraying Mohammad Parvez as a drug peddler, but later, in an attempt to appease the Gujjar Bakerwal community, a senior police officer referred to Parvez as a "martyr". An FIR has been registered at Police Station Satwari under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act. The FIR invokes sections pertaining to attempted murder and provisions related to the Arms Act.
This incident is not isolated, as there have been previous instances in Jammu and Kashmir where families of deceased members of the tribal Gujjar community have alleged foul play. The community has faced a spate of attacks by suspected Hindutva groups in the Jammu region since the bifurcation of the erstwhile state in 2019. The family of Mohammad Parvez, including his five brothers and six sisters, held a massive protest outside the GMC Jammu, demanding justice for Parvez. Parvez was the youngest among his siblings and had gotten married recently.
