J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday (July 25, 2025) joined the growing clamour from relatives and political parties to constitute an inquiry into the killing of a 21-year-old youth during an alleged shootout in Jammu a day ago.

The deceased, Mohammad Parvez, was engaged in sand mining as a profession. According to the family, Parvez and his brother-in-law, residents of Niki Tawi, left home on Thursday to buy medicine. Family members were later called to identify a body at the Government Medical College (GMC) in Jammu by the police. Parvez got married two months ago, with his family claiming he had nothing to do with drug peddling.

However, several Jammu-based news portals citing police officials, claimed there was a shoot-out with drug peddlers at Surey Chak area in Jammu’s Satwari area on Thursday and Parvez was killed. The police did not furnish further details about the incident.

Parvez’s family along with the Gujjar community refuted the claim. “It is a fake encounter,” Talib Hussian, a Gujjar social activist, said.

Guftar Ahmed, a Gujjar leader who joined deceased’s family in their protest on Friday, said, ”Top officials of the J&K Police should see the act of police on ground zero. Not a single FIR was registered against him. Union Home Minister and J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha should take strong action against officials involved in the killing of tribal youth,” Mr. Ahmed said.