SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered a criminal case against several Army personnel, including the commanding officer of the 17 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), for allegedly storming a police station in Kishtwar district, assaulting police personnel and damaging government property.
According to an FIR registered at Atholi Police Station in the remote Paddar area of Kishtwar, the incident took place on June 24 following a dispute linked to the seizure of a private vehicle belonging to an Army official for alleged traffic violations.
The FIR names Commanding Officer Colonel N. Arun Gandhi, Major Vikash Sharma, Naib Subedar Shankar Gurkhe, Sepoys Raj Kumar, Rahul Kumar, Anoop Singh and Omkar Ingale, besides 30 to 40 unidentified Army personnel of the 17 RR camp.
As per reports, the police said the case has been registered under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including unlawful assembly, rioting, criminal trespass, voluntarily causing hurt and grievous hurt, assault on public servants while discharging official duties, attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, and offences related to damage to government property.
According to the complaint filed by Station House Officer (SHO) Atholi, Inspector Amrit Kotach, the incident occurred while he was attending an official meeting chaired by the Deputy Commissioner at the office of the Block Development Officer, Paddar.
The SHO alleged that he received information about a violent incident unfolding at the police station and rushed back to the premises. In his complaint, he claimed that around 30 to 40 Army personnel from the 17 RR camp allegedly entered the police station after scaling its main gate and boundary wall.
The complaint alleged that the personnel, led by Major Sharma and Naib Subedar Gurkhe, were armed with lathis, iron rods and other weapons, and carried out a pre-planned assault on police personnel deployed at the station.
Inspector Kotach alleged that he was physically assaulted by Major Sharma and that his uniform was torn during the incident. He further stated that Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Vijay Kumar Bhagat, who also reached the station, was allegedly assaulted.
The FIR further claimed that Special Police Officer Suresh Kumar sustained serious injuries after being struck on the neck with the butt of a service rifle. Several other policemen on duty were also reported injured.
Police also alleged that the Army personnel assaulted the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) of Kishtwar and his personal security officers inside the police station premises.
According to the FIR, extensive damage was caused to government property, including the police station’s main gate and official vehicles belonging to the ARTO, the SDPO and the SHO.
Reports indicated that the confrontation followed an earlier altercation involving a soldier’s private vehicle and officials accompanying the Deputy Commissioner’s convoy on a narrow road. Police subsequently impounded the vehicle and brought it to Atholi Police Station.
The investigation has been assigned to Sub-Inspector Adarsh Kant. Officials said the injured personnel are undergoing treatment and are reported to be in stable condition.
Responding to the development, Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Suneel Bartwal confirmed that the matter was under examination.
“The matter pertains to an FIR registered by the local police in Atholi, Kishtwar. The matter is under examination through the appropriate institutional mechanisms. The Indian Army will extend full cooperation in the legal process,” he said.
He added that appropriate action would be taken on the basis of the outcome of a joint investigation and that it would be premature to comment further while the inquiry is underway.
The incident is being investigated by the police, while the Army has initiated examination of the allegations through its internal mechanisms.
