JAMMU: Days after the killing of a 21-year-old Gujjar youth in a controversial police operation in Jammu, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday assured that justice will be delivered and stringent action will follow once the inquiry report is finalised. The death of Parvez Ahmad, a resident of Nikki Tawi, during an alleged crossfire between police and drug peddlers has triggered anger and protest among members of the Gujjar community, who allege the encounter was “staged” and the youth was innocent.
Addressing a gathering in Jammu, the Lieutenant Governor said, “Don’t touch the innocent and don’t spare the guilty is our policy. Police have taken effective action. A Special Investigation Team has been constituted and a magisterial investigation has been ordered.” He added that two police officials have already been suspended and further steps will depend on the findings of the ongoing probe.
Parvez Ahmad was killed last Thursday in the Satwari area while police were reportedly chasing suspected drug traffickers. The family and community members, however, claim he was deliberately targeted. The incident has sparked protests demanding accountability and swift justice.
This latest episode of alleged police excess has once again brought into sharp focus the relationship between law enforcement and marginalised communities in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the Gujjars, who have historically faced systemic neglect and underrepresentation.
While speaking at an official event to distribute appointment letters to 80 kin of terror victims, Sinha also invoked stories of past sacrifices by civilians, including Tara Devi of Cherji village in Kishtwar, who died protecting her son from militants in 2001, and Gyan Devi and her infant son, killed by militants in Balgran in 1998. “Dharma’s victory over Adharma is inevitable,” the LG said, while reaffirming the administration’s commitment to upholding justice.
He also outlined a series of administrative steps aimed at supporting families affected by terrorism, including a centralised database and web portal to track cases, new helpline services in all districts, and a mechanism to extend self-employment opportunities to the next of kin. Sinha said more appointment letters and financial assistance will be distributed on August 5 in Srinagar.
Yet, the broader mood in Jammu remains tense. For Parvez Ahmad’s family and many in the Gujjar community, these promises of systemic reform offer little solace in the face of what they describe as an irreversible loss caused by impunity.
