Kulgam Mysterious Deaths: Govt assures support, calls for judicial probe

Qazigund, Mar 18: The government has assured full support to the grieving family of three missing Gujjar youth from Kulgam—two of whom were found dead in the Veshow River, while the search for the third continues, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary said on Tuesday. He called for a judicial probe into the deaths.
Choudhary, along with Cabinet Minister Sakina Itoo, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Devsar Peerzada Feroz, and Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Athar Aamir Khan, visited Chandian village in Qazigund on Tuesday to meet the bereaved family.
Expressing condolences, the delegation assured the family of government support and pushed for a thorough investigation. “We stand with the Gujjar Bakarwal community in their moment of grief. Two young lives have been lost, and one is still missing. While we cannot bring them back, we demand a judicial probe to uncover the truth,” Choudhary said.
The Deputy CM added that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had personally directed the visit, as he was unable to attend due to assembly proceedings. The government has already provided financial assistance to the family, though the amount was not disclosed, he said.
“We are not here for politics or votes but to offer real support. The Chief Minister is committed to ensuring justice and assistance for the family. We will report back to him to ensure all necessary steps are taken,” Choudhary said.
Cabinet Minister Sakina Itoo assured the family that the government would explore employment opportunities for them, considering the deceased and missing youth were the primary earners for their ageing parents.