Kishtwar Police StationSrinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered an FIR against several Army personnel, including the Commanding Officer of the 17 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), over allegations of storming a police station, assaulting police personnel and damaging government property in Kishtwar district.According to the FIR registered at Atholi Police Station in the remote Paddar area, the incident allegedly took place on June 24 following a dispute linked to the seizure of a private vehicle belonging to an Army official for alleged traffic violations.The FIR names Colonel N. Arun Gandhi, Major Vikash Sharma, Naib Subedar Shankar Gurkhe, Sepoys Raj Kumar, Rahul Kumar, Anoop Singh and Omkar Ingale, along with 30 to 40 unidentified Army personnel from the 17 Rashtriya Rifles camp.Police have registered the case under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including unlawful assembly, rioting, criminal trespass, voluntarily causing hurt and grievous hurt, assault on public servants while discharging official duties, attempt to murder, criminal intimidation and offences related to damage to government property.According to the complaint filed by SHO Atholi Inspector Amrit Kotach, he was attending an official meeting chaired by the Deputy Commissioner when he received information about a disturbance at the police station. On returning, he allegedly found that 30 to 40 Army personnel had entered the police station after scaling the main gate and boundary wall.The complaint alleges that the personnel, led by Major Vikash Sharma and Naib Subedar Shankar Gurkhe, were armed with lathis, iron rods and service weapons and assaulted police officials deployed at the station.Police further alleged that SHO Amrit Kotach and SDPO Vijay Kumar Bhagat were assaulted during the incident, while SPO Suresh Kumar sustained serious injuries after allegedly being struck with the butt of a service rifle. Several other police personnel were also reported injured.The FIR also alleges that the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO), Kishtwar, and his Personal Security Officers were assaulted inside the police station. Authorities further claimed that government property, including the police station’s main gate and official vehicles belonging to the ARTO, SHO and SDPO, was damaged.According to reports, the confrontation was preceded by a dispute involving a soldier’s private vehicle and officials accompanying the Deputy Commissioner’s convoy on a narrow road. The vehicle was later impounded and taken to Atholi Police Station.The investigation has been assigned to Sub-Inspector Adarsh Kant. Officials said the injured personnel are undergoing treatment and are in stable condition.Responding to the FIR, Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Suneel Bartwal said the matter is under examination through the appropriate institutional mechanisms and that the Indian Army will fully cooperate with the legal process. He added that further action would depend on the outcome of the joint investigation and that it would be premature to comment while the inquiry is ongoing.Both the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Indian Army are currently investigating the incident through their respective mechanisms.
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