Srinagar: The mysterious deaths of two men from the Gujjar community, whose bodies were found with signs of trauma in a canal, have raised alarm and demands for justice in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The recoveries have deepened suspicions among locals regarding foul play, as authorities maintain the deaths were due to drowning.

The bodies of Showkat Ahmad and Riyaz Ahmad, first reported by Al Jazeera and subsequently by Indian media, were discovered in the Kulgam stream, igniting grief and anger within the Gujjar community. Family members have highlighted injuries on the bodies, contradicting official claims of accidental drowning.

A third individual, Mukhtar Ahmad Awan, who vanished alongside the two brothers, remains missing, exacerbating fears of foul play. The Gujjar community, historically marginalized, has expressed heightened concerns about their safety following these incidents and previous allegations of targeted violence.

The case has prompted political engagement across the Kashmir Valley, with lawmakers and political parties calling for an independent investigation to restore public trust in the administration. Protests have erupted in Kulgam and Jammu districts, driven by accusations of foul play and demands for justice.

Family members of the deceased have voiced their distress and mistrust over the official narrative. Meema Begum, mother of the brothers, tearfully demanded answers, asserting her sons were innocent laborers with no known enemies. Relatives of the deceased have described the bodies’ condition as inconsistent with drowning, citing evidence of trauma.

The situation has drawn parallels to other mysterious deaths and disappearances within the Gujjar community, including the Kathua district cases and Makhan Din’s alleged suicide after claiming police mistreatment.

Community activists, like Amir Chowdhury, have criticized the authorities’ response and called for accountability. They argue that shallow water levels in the canal make drowning implausible, further fueling suspicions of foul play.

As the search for Mukhtar Ahmad continues, the families and the Gujjar community remain determined in their demand for a thorough and unbiased investigation to uncover the truth behind these tragic events.