In a troubling turn of events in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, Imtiyaz Ahmad Magray, a 23-year-old alleged overground worker (OGW) for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), died by drowning on Sunday, May 4, while leading security forces to a suspected terrorist hideout near Vishaw Nallah.
Timeline of Events
- Magray was detained on Saturday by Jammu and Kashmir Police in connection with the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians, including foreign tourists.
- During questioning, he confessed to providing logistical support to terrorists and claimed knowledge of their hideouts in Kulgam’s Tangmarg forest area.
- On Sunday, Magray agreed to guide a joint team of the police and army to one such hideout near the Vishaw riverbed.
- While under drone surveillance, and allegedly under close watch, Magray suddenly jumped into the river. He attempted to swim but was swept away by the current and drowned.
- His body was later recovered from the Adbal stream in Aharbal.
Eyewitness Footage and Family’s Allegations
- A video showing Magray jumping into the river has since gone viral.
- His family has alleged foul play, claiming he died in police custody.
- PDP president Mehbooba Mufti echoed these concerns, demanding an impartial investigation, stating: “Yet another body has been recovered from a river in Kulgam raising serious allegations of foul play… The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam appears to be a calculated attempt to derail the fragile peace.”
Police Statement
The police, while confirming the incident, said:
“During the cordon-and-search operation (CASO), the deceased went to the hideout under close supervision. Consequently, he jumped into Veshaw Nalla and probably tried to escape via the river route.”
Broader Context
This incident comes amid heightened military alert across Kashmir following the Pahalgam attack, with both the Indian Air Force and Navy briefing Prime Minister Modi on potential retaliatory actions. Magray’s death adds a new layer of political sensitivity and human rights scrutiny to an already volatile situation.
