Jammu and Kashmir: 40 Army personnel booked for storming police station, assaulting cops in Kishtawar
According to the FIR, the Army personnel allegedly tore Kotach's uniform and also assaulted Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Vijay Kumar Bhagat, who had also reached the spot.
PTC News Desk: Jammu and Kashmir Police has registered a case against several Army personnel, including a commanding officer, for allegedly entering a police station in Kishtwar district, attacking police officers and damaging government property, officials said on Thursday.
The Army said the incident is being examined through the proper official channels and assured that appropriate action will be taken after a joint investigation.
According to the FIR, the Army personnel allegedly tore Kotach's uniform and also assaulted Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Vijay Kumar Bhagat, who had also reached the spot.
"The accused Army personnel, acting with a common criminal intention, also brutally assaulted the deployed policemen," the SHO said, adding that Special Police Officer Suresh Kumar was struck on the neck with the butt of a service rifle, resulting in serious injuries to him.
According to officials, the dispute began when a police team stopped and seized a private vehicle belonging to an Army officer for alleged traffic rule violations.
The FIR filed at Atholi Police Station states that the incident took place on Wednesday when the Station House Officer (SHO), Inspector Amrit Kotach, was attending a meeting at the office of the Paddar Block Development Officer along with the Deputy Commissioner.
In his complaint, Kotach said he received a phone call informing him about an alleged attack and disturbance at the police station. He claimed that around 30 to 40 personnel from the 17 Rashtriya Rifles camp in Kijayee, led by Major Vikash Sharma and Naib Subedar Shankar Gurkhe, entered the police station after climbing over the main gate and boundary wall.
The FIR alleges that the Army personnel were carrying sticks, iron rods and other weapons and carried out a planned attack inside the police station. It further claims that they assaulted the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) of Kishtwar and his security personnel while they were present at the station.
The matter is currently under investigation, and both the police and the Army are looking into the incident.