Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday visited the residence of 21-year-old Parvez Ahmed in Nikki Tawi, Jammu. Parvez, a Gujjar youth, was killed in an alleged staged police encounter on July 24, 2025, in Surey Chak under the jurisdiction of Satwari Police Station.
Mufti’s visit highlighted growing concerns over what she described as systemic and targeted violence against the Gujjar-Bakerwal community. She alleged continued atrocities against the nomadic tribes, stating that despite the presence of an elected government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, their suffering remains unaddressed.
In a strongly worded statement, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti condemned the killing of 21-year-old Parvez Ahmed, rejecting police claims that he was involved in drug peddling.
“Mohammad Parvez was executed in a fake encounter by those who were supposed to protect him. This is state-sponsored terror targeting the Gujjar-Bakerwal community,” she said, demanding a time-bound judicial probe to bring the culprits to justice.
Mufti, who met the bereaved family, assured them of full support from the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (JKPDP). She warned that such actions further erode public trust in democratic institutions.
Highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the Gujjar-Bakerwal community, Mufti said their members are regularly harassed during seasonal cattle migrations. She cited reports of arbitrary detentions, forced evictions, and baseless allegations of drug peddling and cattle smuggling as daily ordeals the community endures.
“The people placed their faith in an elected government, hoping for relief. But the cycle of violence against our nomadic tribes continues unabated. The Gujjar-Bakerwal communities, who remained steadfast in Jammu and Kashmir’s darkest hours, are now being treated as expendable. This is a betrayal of their loyalty,” Mufti told reporters.
She further alleged that thousands of community members have been detained in recent months by the Kathua and Samba police, only to be released after no evidence was found—deepening the community’s sense of alienation and mistrust. (Media reports)
