Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the Commanding Officer of 17 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), a Major, a Naib Subedar, and around 30-40 other Army personnel for allegedly storming Atholi Police Station in the remote Padder area of Kishtwar district. The FIR accuses them of assaulting police officials, including senior officers, vandalising government property, and attempting to cause fatal injuries.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of June 24, 2026, and has led to the Indian Army stating that the matter is under examination through appropriate institutional mechanisms, with an assurance of full cooperation in any joint investigation.
Background and Trigger
According to police accounts and multiple reports, the confrontation followed the interception of a private vehicle linked to the Army on a narrow mountain road in the Padder area. The vehicle was stopped for alleged rash or negligent driving and for obstructing the convoy of Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma, who was en route to Gulabgarh for an official function.
Police personnel, including the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO), impounded the vehicle after the driver allegedly failed to produce valid documents and reportedly used abusive language. The vehicle was brought to Atholi Police Station for verification, citing both traffic violations and potential security concerns in the sensitive district.
Reports indicate that the Commanding Officer of 17 RR subsequently contacted the police station to claim the vehicle. Police state that upon confirmation of its Army affiliation, instructions were issued for its immediate release. However, within a short time, a large group of Army personnel arrived at the station.
Details of the Alleged Incident
The FIR, registered at Atholi Police Station on June 25, 2026, describes the event as a “pre-planned attack” carried out under the direct instructions and command of Colonel N. Arun Gandhi, Commanding Officer of 17 RR, based at Camp Kijayee.
It alleges that a group of approximately 30-40 Army personnel, led on the ground by Major Vikash Sharma and Naib Subedar Shankar Gurkhe, arrived armed with lathis, iron rods, and service weapons. They allegedly entered the police station premises by forcefully climbing over the main gate and boundary walls.
Inside the station, the personnel are accused of assaulting police officials present, including:
- Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Amrit Kotach, whose uniform was allegedly torn.
- Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Vijay Kumar Bhagat.
- Special Police Officer (SPO) Suresh Kumar, who reportedly sustained serious injuries after being struck on the neck with the butt of a service rifle.
- The ARTO of Kishtwar and his personal security officers.
Several other police personnel were also injured. The FIR further alleges that the group vandalised official vehicles belonging to the SDPO, SHO, and ARTO, damaged the police station’s main gate, and caused other destruction of government property.
Charges in the FIR
The FIR invokes multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including provisions related to:
- Unlawful assembly and rioting
- Criminal trespass
- Causing hurt and grievous hurt
- Assault on public servants
- Attempt to murder
- Criminal intimidation
- Destruction of public property
It also includes relevant sections of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Named individuals in the FIR include Colonel N. Arun Gandhi, Major Vikash Sharma, Naib Subedar Shankar Gurkhe, Sepoy Raj Kumar, Sepoy Rahul Kumar, Sepoy Anoop Singh, and Sepoy Omkar Ingale, along with 30-40 unidentified Army personnel.
Response from the Indian Army
In an official statement, Jammu-based Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Suneel Bartwal said: “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. Appropriate actions will be taken based on the findings of a joint investigation. At this stage, it would be premature to comment further while the investigations are in progress.”
Army sources have indicated that a joint investigation or Court of Inquiry is expected to examine the sequence of events, including the circumstances of the vehicle seizure and the subsequent escalation. No arrests have been reported so far.
Regional Context
Kishtwar district, located in the Chenab Valley, is a strategically important and militancy-affected area where units of the Rashtriya Rifles, including 17 RR, are deployed for counter-insurgency operations. Such incidents underscore the challenges of coordination between the Army and civil police in remote, high-altitude operational zones.
A similar clash between Army personnel and police was reported in Kupwara district in May 2024, which also resulted in an FIR.
Current Status
The investigation into the FIR is underway, with the case being handled by local police authorities. The Army has committed to cooperating fully with the legal process and any joint inquiry. Senior officials from both sides are expected to review the findings once the probe advances.
This incident has drawn attention to the need for robust protocols to manage inter-agency disputes swiftly and transparently, particularly in sensitive border and insurgency-prone regions where unified civil-military coordination remains essential for operational effectiveness and public confidence.
Further updates are anticipated as the investigation progresses.
