In a disturbing incident in Kishtwar district of Jammu & Kashmir, four local men were reportedly assaulted at an army camp after being detained for questioning regarding the recent killings of two village defence volunteers and a soldier by terrorists. The men, identified as Sajad Ahmed (37), Abdul Kabir (32), Mushtaq Ahmed (37), and Mehraj-ud-Din (40), all residents of Kwath Mughal Maidan village, were apprehended on November 20. They were suspected of aiding the terrorists involved in the murders of village defence guards Nazir Ahmed and Kuldeep Kumar, as well as Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar, who were killed in earlier incidents that month.
According to sources, the four men were taken to a Rashtriya Rifles camp in Chas where they allegedly suffered physical abuse. They were released later that evening. A relative of one of the victims, Irshad Goarwal, disclosed that the men sustained injuries to their faces, backs, and legs and are currently receiving treatment at a military hospital in Bhandarkot. He expressed concern over the treatment the men received, stating that they are local laborers who were unjustly treated.
Images depicting the men’s injuries have circulated on social media, although the authenticity of these images has not been independently verified. The Kishtwar district police chief, Javed Iqbal, described the injuries as minor and indicated that the police are investigating the circumstances surrounding their injuries while maintaining communication with the army.
The context of this incident follows the violent abductions and subsequent murders of the village defence guards earlier in November, which sparked significant outrage and protests in the region. Following the killings, the army launched an operation based on intelligence regarding the movements of a terrorist group in Kishtwar.
The White Knight Corps, stationed in Nagrota, acknowledged the allegations of civilian mistreatment during the operation and announced that an investigation would be conducted to determine the facts surrounding the treatment of the detainees. In a statement on social media, they indicated that necessary follow-up actions would be taken based on the investigation’s findings.
An army officer, speaking anonymously, indicated that the army intends to compensate the detained men for their injuries and has apologized for the incident. “The army is providing free treatment to the victims and taking care of them. The army has also assured them of adequate compensation,” the officer stated, affirming a commitment to work cooperatively with the local population in combating terrorism.
This incident has resurfaced discussions surrounding the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which grants special powers to armed forces in areas deemed disturbed. Local political leaders expressed their outrage and called for accountability regarding the alleged torture of civilians. Iltija Mufti, a leader from the Peoples Democratic Party, highlighted the issue of impunity granted to armed forces under current laws, urging for a rigorous investigation into the Kishtwar incident. Similarly, Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari demanded a thorough inquiry and appropriate punitive actions against those responsible.
The Kishtwar incident arrives nearly a year after a similarly controversial situation in Poonch, where three men were allegedly tortured to death by army personnel, leading to significant backlash and protests. In that case, the army instituted a court of inquiry, but the results have not been made public, reflecting ongoing concerns about transparency and accountability in military operations within the region.
