Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered a case against several Army personnel, including a commanding officer, for allegedly storming a police station in the Kishtwar district, assaulting law enforcement officers, and causing damage to government property. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, has prompted an internal examination by the Army, which has pledged cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
Information reaching TahirRihat.com suggests that the confrontation arose after a police team intercepted and impounded a private vehicle belonging to an Army official due to alleged traffic violations. This action appears to have triggered a forceful response from the Army unit stationed at Camp Kijayee.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed at the Atholi police station, the incident unfolded while the Station House Officer (SHO), Inspector Amrit Kotach, was attending a meeting chaired by the Deputy Commissioner at the Paddar Block Development Officer’s office. Inspector Kotach stated in his complaint that he received information about a “criminal conspiracy” and a violent assault taking place within the police station premises, allegedly under the direct orders of Colonel N Arun Gandhi, the Commanding Officer of the 17 Rashtriya Rifles (RR).
The FIR details that approximately 30 to 40 personnel from the 17 RR, led by Major Vikash Sharma and Naib Subedar Shankar Gurkhe, executed what is described as a “pre-planned” attack. The report indicates that these personnel scaled the main gate and boundary wall of the police station, armed with lathis, iron rods, and other weapons. The SHO asserted that their “common intention was to cause fatal injuries and kill the police personnel on duty.”
Upon rushing back to the station, Inspector Kotach reported that he was physically assaulted by Major Sharma. The FIR further alleges that the Army personnel tore Kotach’s uniform and also assaulted Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Vijay Kumar Bhagat, who had arrived at the scene. The complaint states that the accused Army personnel, acting with a “common criminal intention,” brutally assaulted the policemen on duty. Special Police Officer Suresh Kumar sustained serious injuries after being struck on the neck with the butt of a service rifle. Several other police personnel on duty also reportedly suffered injuries during this “unprovoked assault.”
The scope of the alleged assault extended to civilian officials as well. The FIR notes that Army personnel also assaulted the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) of Kishtwar and his personal security officers inside the police station. In addition to the physical assaults, the attackers are accused of causing extensive damage to government and public property. This included vandalizing the official vehicle of the ARTO, the vehicles belonging to the SDPO and the SHO, and breaking down the main gate of the police station.
The FIR outlines that the actions of the accused individuals disclose the commission of cognizable offenses punishable under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. These include charges such as unlawful assembly, rioting, house-trespass/criminal trespass, voluntarily causing hurt and grievous hurt, assault on public servants while discharging official duties, attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, mischief causing damage to government property, and other allied offenses, as well as violations under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
The named accused in the FIR include Colonel Gandhi, Major Sharma, Naib Subedar Gurkhe, and Sepoys Raj Kumar, Rahul Kumar, Anoop Singh, and Omkar Ingale, along with unidentified Army personnel from the 17 RR camp. The Army, through its Jammu-based Public Relations Officer Lt Col Suneel Bartwal, acknowledged the registration of the FIR by the local police in Atholi, Kishtwar. Lt Col Bartwal stated that the matter is under examination through appropriate institutional mechanisms and that the Indian Army will extend full cooperation in the legal process. He added that appropriate actions will be taken based on the outcome of the joint investigation, deeming further comment premature while investigations are ongoing.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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