Kishtwar: At least four civilians were allegedly ill-treated by soldiers on Friday night in the Chask area of the Kishtwar district, according to locals, sparking outrage in Jammu and Kashmir. Police said that they were verifying the claims while the Indian Army has "launched an investigation to ascertain the facts."
The victims, Mehraj-ud-Din, Mushtaq Ahmed, Abdul Kabir, and Sajjad Ahmed—all of them labourers and natives of Kwath village—allegedly sustained serious injuries in the incident and were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Muhammad Hussain, a former Panch of Kwath village, told ETV Bharat that the army summoned four civilians from Kwath village to its Chask camp on Thursday, questioned them, and then released them. However, Hussain alleged that the civilians had received multiple injuries.
“They were called to the army camp in Chask, where they were brutally tortured and left with multiple injuries. When we spoke to the injured persons, they accused the army soldiers of beating them and were allowed to leave only after their condition deteriorated,” he said.
“While they were on the way to the hospital, army officers at Bhanderkote camp requested locals to the camp and assured them that all the expenses of the treatment of victims would be borne by the army. People accompanying them agreed, and the injured people are undergoing treatment under the army's watch,” Hussain added.
After the incident, SSP Kishtwar, senior officers of the Army’s 9-sector Rashtriya Rifles (RR) of the Indian Army, and officials of civil administration also visited the camp and assured all possible help to the victims.
When contacted by SSP Kishtwar Javed Iqbal, he said, “We are verifying the matter.” For the last few months, militant activities have increased in the higher reaches of the Chatroo and Mughal Maidan areas, and the army also lost a junior commissioned officer besides injuries to a few other soldiers.
However, militants managed to flee from the area and are yet to be traced. Security forces have taken several steps to trace militants and dismantle their network, but apart from zeroing in a few overground workers, nothing much has been done.
The Army has ordered a probe into the incident.
The White Knight Corps in a post on X stated, "Based on specific intelligence of the move of a group of terrorists in the Kishtwar Sector, an operation was launched by Rashtriya Rifles on 20 November 2024. There are some reports on the alleged ill-treatment of civilians during the conduct of the operation. An investigation is being launched to ascertain the facts. Necessary follow-up action will be ensured. Further movement of the group of terrorists is being monitored."
Meanwhile, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday demanded "swift action" against "those" involved in the torture of civilians in Kishtwar district in Jammu region.
"Allegations of severe torture have emerged from Kishtwar, taking us back to the disturbing events that took place in Bafliaz Surankote earlier this year. Sajad Ahmad, Abdul Kabir, Mushtaq Ahmad, and Mehraj-ud-Din, all from Kuath village, were summoned to the army camp for questioning where they were allegedly subjected to extreme physical torture. The victims, left severely injured and unable to walk had to be carried to hospital," Mehbooba wrote on X.
"Urge the UT government to take swift action against those involved to ensure accountability and to prevent such heinous human rights violations from recurring in future," she added. At least four civilians were allegedly tortured by army in the Chask area of the Kishtwar district on Thursday night sparking outrage. Police said that they were verifying the claims while the Army said it has "launched an investigation to ascertain the facts."
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