40 Army Personnel Booked Over Kishtwar Police Station Attack
Colonel, Major among those named in FIR; Army assures full cooperation with investigation
- J&K Police registered an FIR against 40 Army personnel, including a Colonel and a Major.
- Police alleged personnel assaulted officers and vandalised Atholi Police Station.
- The Army said it will cooperate with the investigation through institutional mechanisms.
- The incident reportedly followed the seizure of an Army vehicle by transport authorities.
GG News Bureau
Srinagar, 25th June: Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered a case against 40 Army personnel, including a commanding officer and a Major, for allegedly storming Atholi Police Station in Kishtwar district, assaulting police personnel and damaging government property.
According to the FIR, those named include Colonel N. Arun Gandhi, Commanding Officer of the 17 Rashtriya Rifles, Major Vikas Sharma, Naib Subedar Shankar Gurkhe and 30-40 unidentified Army personnel. They have been booked under provisions relating to attempted murder, assault on public servants, criminal trespass and destruction of public property.
The Army, however, said it would fully cooperate with the legal process.
“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 action will be taken based on the outcome of the joint investigation,” an Army spokesperson said.
Police alleged that the incident occurred after Army personnel forcibly entered the police station armed with lathis, iron rods and service weapons by scaling the main gate and boundary wall.
The FIR stated that Deputy Superintendent of Police Vijay Kumar Bhagat and Station House Officer Amrit Katoch were among those allegedly assaulted. The SHO claimed he was attacked after returning to the police station from an official government function upon receiving information about the incident.
Investigators alleged that several police personnel sustained injuries and that official vehicles belonging to the police and the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) were vandalised. The main gate of the police station was also damaged.
Police further alleged that the Assistant Regional Transport Officer and his personal security officers were assaulted during the incident.
According to reports, the confrontation followed the seizure of an Army vehicle by the Assistant Regional Transport Officer in Kishtwar.
The FIR alleges that the attack was pre-planned and carried out with the intention of causing serious harm to police personnel on duty. Authorities are continuing the investigation while the Army has assured cooperation with the ongoing probe.
