The death of 22-year-old Imtiyaz Ahmad Magray, whose body was recovered from the Adbal stream in Kulgam on May 4, 2025, has cast a dark shadow over Jammu and Kashmir. The police claim Magray, labeled an overground worker for terrorists, jumped into the stream to escape while guiding security forces to a militant hideout. Yet, drone footage showing a youth being swept away in the fast-moving waters, coupled with allegations of custodial killing from Magray’s family and local residents, deepens suspicions of foul play. The reported slogans for independence during Health Minister Sakina Itoo’s visit to the grieving family add a volatile dimension, suggesting underlying tensions that cannot be ignored.
This incident, set against the backdrop of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, raises troubling questions about transparency and accountability. The police narrative—bolstered by the drone video—clashes with the family’s assertion that Magray, a laborer with no militant ties, was detained days earlier by the Army. Political leaders, including Itoo, Mehbooba Mufti, and Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, have demanded a judicial probe, amplifying public distrust in the official account. The slogans, whether spontaneous or orchestrated, signal a broader discontent that risks escalating if left unaddressed.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police must act swiftly to uncover the truth. A thorough, impartial investigation is non-negotiable to clarify the circumstances of Magray’s death and address allegations of misconduct. Delaying or obscuring the facts will only fuel speculation and unrest, adding yet another case to the region’s troubling history of “mysterious” deaths. The public deserves answers, not ambiguity. Transparency is the only path to restoring trust and preventing this tragedy from becoming another unresolved chapter.
