J&K constable, suspended over death of Gujjar youth in ‘police firing’, arrested

Mohammad Parvez, a 21-year-old from Niki Tawi, was shot dead by police, allegedly in a shootout near Sure Chak village on the outskirts of Jammu city on July 24. The police had claimed then that he was killed in exchange of fire between a police party and some drug peddlers when the former was chasing them.

However, the killing led to protests by the Gujjar community, who alleged that the youth was killed in a fake encounter, prompting senior police officers to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter. The Jammu district magistrate also had ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

The death drew strong condemnations from J&K’s top political leadership, from the ruling National Conference to the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Peoples Democratic Party.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the incident as “highly unfortunate and deeply regrettable”.

“The use of force by the police has to be calibrated and cannot be indiscriminate,” Omar Abdullah wrote in a post on X, adding: “J&K has paid a heavy price in the past because of incidents such as these… This incident should be investigated in a transparent and time bound manner. I send my condolences to the family of Mohd Parvez. May Allah grant him Jannat”.

Former chief minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti also took to X, saying, “Mohammad Parvez, a tribal youth, was killed by the police… He’s now been labelled a drug dealer, but even if that is the case, we still live in a democratic country where justice is served through rule of law as opposed to khap panchayats or kangaroo courts.”

National Conference MP from Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency Mian Altaf Ahmed, too, expressed his anguish and grief over the death of Parvez.

“I strongly condemn the killing of a youth, Mohd Parvez, resident of Niki Tawi, in police firing in Jammu yesterday. It is a broad daylight murder. A fast-track investigation should be done and strict action (must be taken) against officials involved. My solidarity and sympathy with the victim’s family,” he said.

The BJP leader Ravinder Raina too had visited the deceased’s family.