India, April 3 -- Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha on Friday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the Ganderbal encounter following widespread concerns over the killing of a local youngster. While the army initially reported the neutralisation of a terrorist during Wednesday's joint operation at Arhama, the youth's family vehemently contested the claim, asserting he was a civilian.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday called for a "transparent and time-bound" probe with public disclosure of facts, while PDP president Mehbooba Mufti alleged the incident was a "fake encounter," identifying the deceased as an orphan who operated an NGO.

"I have ordered a thorough and impartial magisterial inquiry into the Arhama, Ganderb...