A 23-year-old man, suspected of aiding Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, drowned after jumping into a river while attempting to flee from security forces in Kulgam district, officials confirmed on Sunday.
The incident comes amid an intensified crackdown on terror networks in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives.
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The deceased, identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Magray, was allegedly working as an overground worker (OGW) for LeT. The Jammu and Kashmir Police had detained him on Saturday for questioning in connection with the ghastly terror attack.
According to security sources, cited in a News18 report, Magray confessed to having provided food and shelter to terrorists hiding in Kulgam’s Tangmarg area. On Sunday, he was reportedly accompanying a joint team of the police and army to locate a suspected hideout when he suddenly jumped into the fast-flowing Vishaw Nallah river in an attempt to escape.
A video of the incident, which has since gone viral on social media, shows Magray leaping into the river. However, despite attempts to swim, he was swept away by the strong current. His body was later recovered downstream in the Adbal stream near Aharbal.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police confirmed the sequence of events, stating that the escape occurred under surveillance, including drone videography.
The incident quickly took a contentious turn, further states the report, with Magray’s family alleging foul play and claiming he died in police custody.
Investigations into both the terror attack and Magray's death are ongoing.
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