Another Kashmiri Youth’s Life Taken Away by Indian Troops in IIOJK

Another tragic incident of alleged custodial killing has rocked Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), where a 22-year-old labourer was found dead after being detained by Indian forces—raising serious questions about India’s ongoing human rights violations in the region.

Kulgam – Tensions are high in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) after Indian troops allegedly martyred a young Kashmiri labourer, Imtiaz Ahmad Magray, during a so-called cordon and search operation in the Mazgam area of Kulgam district.

According to reports, the 22-year-old was arrested by Indian forces during a military operation in the Tangmarg forest area and was later found dead in a stream in the Adbal Watoo area. His body showed signs of foul play, prompting widespread outrage among local residents and human rights groups.

While Indian police have admitted taking Magray into custody, they have dismissed allegations of custodial killing, claiming that the youth “committed suicide by jumping into the stream.” However, this version has been vehemently rejected by the local population, who assert that Magray was killed while in custody and his body was dumped to fabricate a suicide narrative.

Eyewitnesses and family members say Magray was a daily wage labourer with no history of militancy or criminal involvement. “He was innocent. He left home for work and never returned,” said a grieving family member. Residents of the area say the government forces are routinely targeting unarmed civilians under the pretext of anti-insurgency operations.

The incident has sparked anger and fear across IIOJK, with many accusing the Indian army and paramilitary forces of systematically using violence to terrorize civilians. Protests broke out in parts of Kulgam, demanding an independent investigation and justice for the slain youth.

Local human rights defenders and political analysts say this is not an isolated case but part of a long-standing pattern of custodial torture and extrajudicial killings in IIOJK. Legal accountability remains elusive, as Indian forces continue to enjoy immunity under draconian laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

The extrajudicial killing of Imtiaz Ahmad Magray has added to the growing list of unresolved deaths in the region, where thousands of Kashmiris have been arrested, tortured, or killed in mysterious circumstances. Despite repeated appeals by international human rights organizations, New Delhi has refused to allow impartial investigations into such incidents.

Activists have renewed calls for international intervention and monitoring, urging the United Nations and global human rights bodies to investigate and stop the continuing cycle of violence in the occupied territory.