In Kashmir’s Kulgam an overground worker (OGW) drowned will attempting to escape security forces in the Vaishav Nallah. The youth was known to have ties with a terrorist groups. Imtiyaz Ahmad Magray, the 23-year-old was a resident of Tangmarg and while evading police forces, he jumped in the water currents.
The police had him under surveillance since his confession to authorities about his involvement in Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) hideouts which were a hub of terrorist activity. Earlier this month on May 3, he was detained under suspicion of having links who were reportedly operating in Tangmarg forest.
Ahmad came under limelight during an investigation in April, where two terrorists escaped from the police officials preceding a round of fire. The video of Ahmad’s drowning made its round on social media causing his causing to contest the statements made by the police.
#Watch: Drone footage Released, Body of youth recovered from Kulgam Nallah, He was OGW, had knowledge of 2 Pakistani Militants , hideouts; tried to escape via river route, dies: Police pic.twitter.com/ZqugNmFWul
— Kashmir Post (@KashmirPostNews) May 4, 2025
The incident has garnered public reactions from netizens, Kashmiri residents as political leaders demand accountability. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti took to X and expressed her concerns. The PDP President wrote, ” 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.” Suggesting foul play, she also referred to the Pahalgam terror attack leading to “arbitrary arrests, home demolitions, and the targeting of innocent civilians”. The office of Aga Syed Mahdi, a Member of Parliament from Srinagar, also issued a press release urging that “Kashmiris cannot be treated as collateral damage after the Pahalgam attack.”
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
As an aftermath of the incident, Sakin Itoo, a state Cabinet Minister visited Imtiyaz’s residence. As per PTI, Itoo demanded a judicial enquiry and claimed that there was nothing concrete against the Kulgam OGW in police records. “There should be a judicial probe (into Magray’s death) so that the truth comes out,” she was quoted as saying.
The Pahalgam terror attack has not only caused a riff in Indo-pak relations but also affected many in Jammu and Kashmir. While majority of their livelihood was dependent on tourists, India has take strict diplomatic measures to express their stand on terrorism.