The Jammu and Kashmir Home Department, which falls under Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha, has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the Arhama encounter in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal.

The Army had said in a statement on Wednesday 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 28-year-old 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.

Posting the order to the Lok Bhawan X handle on Friday, Sinha said, “I have ordered a thorough and impartial magisterial inquiry into the Arhama, Ganderbal incident. The inquiry will examine all aspects related to the incident and ensure that justice is served.”

The Home Department order directs the District Magistrate Ganderbal to complete the inquiry within seven days. “The issue has been examined and, accordingly, you are requested to get a thorough and impartial magisterial inquiry conducted into the matter to ascertain the facts and circumstances leading to the death of Rashid Ahmad Mughal… The inquiry may be completed within a period of seven days and the report be submitted to the Home Department.”

According to Ajaz, Rashid left home on Tuesday morning and did not return in the evening. “We called him around 6 pm. His phone was switched off. He had an old phone, and we thought it must have broken down.” He said that on Wednesday morning, the Station House Officer (SHO) paid him a visit. “He told me that my brother had an accident and asked me to come along,” claimed Ajaz. “They took me to the police control room in Srinagar and asked me to identify a body. I was shocked to see it was my brother’s.”

Ajaz said police told him that his brother was a militant. “I told them it was not true. I asked them to hand over the body, but they refused,” he claimed. “They took it to Handwara; I was the only family member accompanying it.”

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has sought a “transparent” probe into Rashid’s death. His predecessor, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, and an MP from his party, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, had also highlighted the incident.

Ganderbal Senior Superintendent of Police Khalil Ahmad Poswal, had told The Indian Express that they are verifying whether Rashid had a past militant record.

“His brother is in Pakistan,” SSP Poswal said. “It was an Army operation, and an AK-56 rifle has been recovered.”

Ajaz had claimed it is not true that his brother, Ishfaq Ahmad Mighal, is in Pakistan. “He was killed in 2000, and we did not even get his body.”

The Defence spokesperson, when contacted, had said, “The family can claim anything. It is a sensitive issue; the truth will come out.”