Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered a case against several Army personnel, including a commanding officer, over allegations that they forcibly entered a police station in Kishtwar district, assaulted police officials, and damaged government property, PTI reported quoting officials said on Thursday.
The Army stated that the incident is being reviewed through established institutional procedures and assured that appropriate action would follow based on the findings of a joint investigation.
According to officials, the confrontation reportedly began after police stopped and seized a private vehicle belonging to an Army officer for alleged traffic violations.
An FIR filed at Atholi Police Station states that the incident took place on Wednesday while Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Amrit Kotach was attending a meeting at the office of the Paddar Block Development Officer, chaired by the Deputy Commissioner.
In his complaint, Kotach alleged that he was informed by phone about a planned attack and violence at the police station, which he claimed occurred under the instructions of Colonel N Arun Gandhi, Commanding Officer of the 17 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), as reported by PTI.
The FIR alleges that around 30-40 personnel from the 17 RR camp at Kijayee, led by Major Vikash Sharma and Naib Subedar Shankar Gurkhe, entered the police station after scaling its gate and boundary wall. They were allegedly armed with sticks, iron rods, and other weapons and carried out a coordinated attack.
Kotach claimed that the group intended to inflict serious injuries on police personnel and that Major Sharma physically assaulted him when he returned to the station. He further alleged that his uniform was torn and that sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Vijay Kumar Bhagat was also attacked after arriving at the scene.
The complaint states that several policemen on duty were assaulted. Special police officer Suresh Kumar reportedly suffered serious injuries after being struck on the neck with the butt of a service rifle, while other officers also sustained injuries during the incident.
The FIR further alleges that the Army personnel assaulted the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) of Kishtwar and his security staff inside the police station.
In addition to the alleged assaults, the accused personnel are said to have caused significant damage to public property, including vandalising official vehicles belonging to the ARTO, SDPO, and SHO, and damaging the police station’s main gate.
Police have invoked various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges related to unlawful assembly, rioting, criminal trespass, causing hurt and grievous hurt, assaulting public servants on duty, attempted murder, criminal intimidation, and destruction of government property, along with sections of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Those named in the FIR include Colonel N Arun Gandhi, Major Vikash Sharma, Naib Subedar Shankar Gurkhe, and soldiers Raj Kumar, Rahul Kumar, Anoop Singh, and Omkar Ingale, along with other unidentified personnel from the 17 RR camp.
Responding to the allegations, Jammu-based Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Suneel Bartwal told PTI that the matter is under investigation. He said the Army is fully cooperating with the legal process and that any necessary action will be determined after the joint inquiry is completed. He added that it would be inappropriate to make further comments while the investigation is underway.
