FIR Registered Against 17 RR Army Personnel Over Alleged Assault at Kishtwar Police Station

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered an FIR against several Army personnel, including officers of the 17 Rashtriya Rifles (17 RR), over an alleged assault on police personnel and damage to government property at Police Station Atholi in Kishtwar district.According to FIR No. 17/2026, registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, the incident allegedly occurred between 12 noon and 1 pm on June 24.Police said the Station House Officer (SHO) of Police Station Atholi was attending an official function at the Block Development Office in Paddar when information was received about a disturbance at the police station.As per the FIR, 30 to 40 Army personnel from the 17 Rashtriya Rifles Camp, Kijaiyee, allegedly led by Major Vikas Sharma and Naib Subedar Shankar Gurkhe under the command of Commanding Officer N Arun Gandhi, entered the police station premises by scaling the main gate and boundary wall.The complaint alleges that the Army personnel, armed with lathis, iron rods and service weapons, assaulted police personnel on duty. Police further alleged that the SHO and SDPO Atholi Vijay Kumar Bhagat were assaulted during the incident, while the SHO’s uniform was torn in the scuffle.The FIR also states that SPO Suresh Kumar sustained injuries after allegedly being struck on the neck with the butt of a rifle. Several other police personnel were also reported injured.Police have further alleged that the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO), Kishtwar, and his Personal Security Officers were assaulted while present at the police station.According to the complaint, government property was damaged during the incident, including vehicles belonging to the ARTO, SHO and SDPO, as well as the main gate of the police station.Those named in the FIR include Commanding Officer N Arun Gandhi, Major Vikas Sharma, Naib Subedar Shankar Gurkhe, GD Raj Kumar, Sepoy Rahul Kumar, Sepoy Anoop Singh, Sepoy Omkar Ingale, along with 30 to 40 unidentified Army personnel.The case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3(1) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. The Army had not issued any official response to the allegations at the time of publishing this report.