Srinagar: A 23-year-old man from Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir, drowned in the Vaishow stream after being detained by police for questioning regarding alleged ties to the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group. While police maintain that Imtiyaz Ahmed jumped into the stream while attempting to escape, his family alleges custodial death, fueling widespread outrage and demands for an investigation.
Police assert that Ahmed, suspected of being an overground worker for Lashkar-e-Taiba, was taken to a hideout location for identification. They claim he then jumped into the fast-flowing stream in a bid to flee. The whole incident was purportedly captured by a drone camera operated by security agencies. According to police sources, Ahmed’s alleged involvement emerged during an investigation into an April 23 encounter where two terrorists escaped. They also claim he confessed to knowing a Lashkar hideout and was taken there, leading to his attempted escape and subsequent drowning.
Body of youth recovered from #KulgamNallah
He was #OGW, had knowledge of 2 #Pakistani #terrorists, #hideouts; tried to escape via river route, dies: #Police pic.twitter.com/WuBe1a1rqt
— Govind Singh🇮🇳 (@Govindsmedia) May 4, 2025
However, Ahmed’s family vehemently disputes the police narrative, alleging foul play and accusing authorities of a custodial killing. This incident evokes a previous case where three missing Gujjar youths from Kulgam were found dead in the same stream, a case that remains under investigation.
The incident has ignited widespread anger and condemnation across the region, with political leaders demanding accountability. Former Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti questioned the circumstances surrounding Ahmed’s death. The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam appears to be a calculated attempt to derail the fragile peace, disrupt tourism in Kashmir and undermine communal harmony across the country. If a single act of violence can shake the entire system—triggering arbitrary arrests, home demolitions, and the targeting of innocent civilians then the perpetrators have already achieved their objective,” Mehbooba posted on X..
Yet another body has been recovered from a river in Kulgam raising serious allegations of foul play. Local residents allege that Imtiyaz Magray was picked up by the army two days ago and now mysteriously his body has surfaced in the river.
The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam… https://t.co/z2q3OJPa7m— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) May 4, 2025
Meanwhile, Sakina Itoo, a state Cabinet Minister, visited Ahmed’s family and demanded a judicial inquiry, asserting that nothing was incriminating against him in police records.
The incident comes on the heels of a major anti-terror operation launched by security forces following the April 22 Pahalgam attack, in which 25 tourists and one local Kashmiri were killed.