Forty Army personnel, including a commanding officer and a Major, face an FIR in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district for allegedly storming Atholi police station, assaulting policemen, and vandalising property.
Police named Colonel N Arun Gandhi, commanding officer of 17 Rashtriya Rifles, Major Vikas Sharma, Naib Subedar Shankar Gurkhe, and 30–40 other unidentified soldiers in the case. The FIR includes charges of attempted murder, assault on government officers, and destruction of public property.
According to the FIR, the troops forced entry into the police station armed with lathis, iron rods, and service weapons after scaling the main gate and boundary walls. SHO Amrit Katoch stated that upon returning from a government function, he was physically assaulted by Major Sharma and his uniform torn. SDPO Vijay Kumar Bhagat was also attacked.
The FIR alleges the assault was pre-planned, with the intention to cause fatal injuries to police personnel. Reports suggest the confrontation followed the seizure of an Army vehicle by the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Kishtwar. The ARTO and his security officers were also assaulted during the incident.
Police said the attackers vandalised official vehicles belonging to the ARTO, SHO, and SDPO, and damaged the police station’s main gate. Several policemen sustained injuries.
The Army stated it will cooperate with the investigation. A defence spokesperson said, “The matter is under examination through appropriate institutional mechanisms. The Indian Army will extend full cooperation in the legal process. Appropriate actions will be taken based on the outcome of the joint investigation.”
