Army denies allegation of ransacking house in Tral

A family in the Seer village had on Monday claimed the army personnel raided their house on the intervening night of 27 and 28 September and thrashed family members. A video put out by the family had gone viral on the internet.

Tral: The Indian Army has denied the allegations that army personnel beat up members of a family in Seer village of Tral in Pulwama district, calling them baseless. The army issued a clarification, saying that the army did not carry out any search operations of any house. The army denied the allegations of manhandling anyone on the night between 27 and 28 September.

"Allegations that Army personnel from Tral beat up members of a family at Seer are baseless. No search of any house or manhandling of anyone was carried out by Army at Seer on the night of 27-28 September 2021," a spokesperson for the army told media.

A family in the Seer village had on Monday claimed the army personnel raided their house on the intervening night of 27 and 28 September and thrashed family members. A video put out by the family had gone viral on the internet.

The army spokesperson said that an army night domination party had gone to Seer for patrolling on the evening of September 27.

"While moving near Arapal Nala which passes through the village, they spotted two persons sitting next to the Nala. The two individuals were called and when they were being questioned, an individual named Ali Mohd Chopan and his family members came out of their house, which was nearby. As soon as they came out of the house, Ishrat Jaan, daughter of Ali Mohd Chopan, feigned fainting and the family members started shouting. They called other villagers also and started blaming Army for ransacking the house and beating the girl," the army spokesperson said.

The army in its statement clarified that the patrolling party were not close to the house or the girl.

The spokesperson pointed out that Ali Mohd Chopan is the father of Shabir Ahmad Chopan, who is presently in jail under PSA for providing logistic support to terrorists. He said that the family is related to slain JeM terrorist Abdul Hamid Chopan who was killed in an encounter on 21 Aug in Nagaberan and also provided logistic support to slain Jaish terrorist Saifullah, alias Lamboo, who was killed on 31 July this year.

"In recent months, Security Forces have carried out a number of successful operations neutralising Jaish terrorists and severely impacting their network in Tral. This orchestrated allegation was expected from terrorists' supporters to impede the relentless operations by Security Forces aimed at ensuring peace in the Valley," the statement claimed.

The spokesperson further informed, "Necessary complaints are being filed with J&K Police against people who are spreading rumours and feeding false information to disrupt peace and incite citizens against the Indian Army."