Terror Suspect Drowns in Kulgam River While Fleeing Security Forces, Family Alleges Foul Play
A 23-year-old terror suspect drowned in a river in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam while allegedly trying to flee from security forces during a search operation, prompting allegations of custodial misconduct.
Imtiyaz Ahmad Magray, a resident of Kulgam district and an alleged overground worker of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), died on Sunday after jumping into the Vishaw Nallah during a counter-terror operation, sources said.
Magray had been detained by Jammu and Kashmir Police for interrogation in connection with the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 people dead. According to officials, he had confessed to providing food and shelter to the attackers and offered to guide forces to their hideouts.
While leading a joint police-army team to a suspected location near the riverbank, Magray reportedly leapt into the fast-flowing stream and was swept away by the current. His body was later retrieved from Adbal stream in Aharbal, Kulgam.
A widely circulated video on social media showed Magray jumping into the river as security personnel looked on. The footage sparked outrage and drew scrutiny from local leaders.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti raised serious questions about the incident. “Yet another body has been recovered from a river in Kulgam raising serious allegations of foul play,” she said in a post on X. “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.”
Mufti added that the incident, in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, appeared to be part of a broader attempt to disrupt peace and communal harmony in the region.
In a statement on Sunday, the Jammu and Kashmir Police confirmed that Magray was under their watch and had been cooperating in identifying hideouts used by the militants.
“When CASO (cordon and search operation) was launched, the deceased went to the hideout spot (near the riverbed) under close supervision via videographed drone. Consequently, he jumped into Veshaw Nalla and probably tried to escape via the river route,” the statement said.
The police added that legal proceedings are underway and further investigation is being conducted.
Magray’s death comes amid heightened tensions in Jammu and Kashmir following the deadly Pahalgam attack, claimed initially by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of LeT. The assault targeted tourists and locals, killing 26 and wounding several others — the deadliest such strike since the 2019 abrogation of Article 370.
India has since stepped up security operations across south Kashmir and downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have both vowed stringent action against perpetrators.
Amid conflicting narratives over Magray’s death, demands for a neutral investigation have grown louder. Rights groups and political parties are urging authorities to ensure transparency.
“This case must be handled with sensitivity and impartiality. Custodial deaths, if proven, can severely undermine public trust,” a senior human rights activist in Srinagar said.
