Online Desk: Kashmiris’ lives remain at the mercy of brutal Indian forces’ personnel in occupied Jammu and Kashmir with the latest example being the custodial killing of a 23-year-old youth in Kulgam district, raising the toll of such deaths to five since Pahlgam incident on April 22.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the victim has been identified as Imtiaz Ahmad Magray. He was arrested by Indian forces during a cordon and search operation in Mazgam, Tangmarg area of the district, and ruthlessly beaten to death in custody. The troops threw his body in a nullah. His body was recovered by locals from nullah at Adbal Wattoo DH Pora area of the district.
Locals while refuting the authorities’ suicide mantra said the victim who was a labourer was picked up by Indian forces and was subsequently tortured to death in custody. Custodial killings are used as a tool to create fear psychosis among the Kashmiris.
The locals complained that after Pahalgam incident Indian forces are now targeting Kashmiris in fake encounters in the garb of cordon and search operations. They said Imtiyaz Ahmad Magray is the fifth victim of custodial or staged killings since the Pahalgam false flag operation took place on April 22.
It is worth mentioning that out of over 96,000 deaths since 1989 in IIOJK, 7,282 youth have died in Indian army-run interrogation centres over the past 36 years.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Young Men’s League (JKYML) has strongly condemned the custodial killing of Imtiaz Ahmad Magray in the Kulgam district. In a statement to the press, the JKYML said that Indian forces had arrested the Imtiaz three days ago, and his body was recovered yesterday from a stream in the area. The killing, the statement added, highlights the alarming reality that Indian troops in the region can detain, disappear, and execute civilians without any legal consequences. “It is a blatant act of state terrorism,” the statement read.
