Mirwaiz flags ‘civilian killing’, curbs on Jamia Masjid – ‘Killed in cold blood’

“But let us hope that as news comes that LG sahib himself has ordered an inquiry, this time justice gets done and those responsible are held to account and punished,” he said, saying the body not being returned to the family for burial was “inhuman and condemnable.”

Mirwaiz also expressed concern over the repeated closure of Jamia Masjid. “Access to this central place of worship for the Muslims of Kashmir is repeatedly curtailed at the will of authorities. Eid prayer was denied, as were many Fridays during Ramzan. Such repeated restrictions are not just about closing a mosque, they speak of the larger reality, when “normalcy is tomtomed by curbing people’s fundamental rights” through bans, bars and censorship. Unfortunately, the harassment of Kashmiris is unceasing,” he added.

He also asserted in his sermon that “almost daily”, there are reports in newspapers of cases, chargesheets and arrests of Kashmiris by the multiple agencies operating in J&K including the — SIA, CIK, cyber cell, ACB and the NIA on one ground or another.

“Besides, frequent extra judicial dismissals of Kashmiri government employees with no recourse to judicial remedy is also pursued,” he said.

He added that this creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation and reinforces the narrative that portrays an entire people as “dangerous and suspects to be ruled by imposing checks and control.” Terming this policy “coercive” he added that this cannot build viable peace or lead to progress if that is what the authorities seek, as they claim.
The Indian Army had said in a statement on April 1 that a militant was killed after suspicious movement was observed in the area. However, the identity of the deceased was not released.

On Thursday, the family of the man, Rashid Ahmad Mughal, claimed that he had no links to militancy. His brother, Ajaz Ahmad Mughal, had told The Indian Express that Rashid was an M.Com degree holder who helped villagers with documentation work for a nominal fee. Two former panchayat members from the village had confirmed this.

Naveed Iqbal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and reports from Jammu and Kashmir. With a career spanning over 15 years in frontline journalism, Naveed provides authoritative reporting on the region’s transition, governance, and the socio-political implications of national policies. Expertise Regional Specialization: Based in the Srinagar and New Delhi bureaus, Naveed has spent over a decade documenting the unique challenges of Jammu and Kashmir. Her reporting is distinguished by deep contextual knowledge of the region's post-Article 370, statehood debates, and local electoral politics. Key Coverage Beats: Her extensive body of work covers: Politics & Governance: Tracking the National Conference (NC), PDP, and BJP dynamics, including in-depth coverage of J&K’s first Assembly sessions and Rajya Sabha polls following the reorganization of the state. Internal Security & Justice: Providing rigorous reporting on counter-insurgency operations, terror module investigations, and judicial developments involving political detainees and constitutional rights. Education & Minority Affairs: Highlighting systemic issues such as quota rows in J&K, public service commission reforms, and the challenges faced by minority communities. ... Read More

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