Forty army personnel, including a colonel and a major, have been booked for allegedly assaulting a police station in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, according to a police complaint filed on Thursday. The incident occurred after the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) in Kishtwar seized a vehicle linked to the Army.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Assault
The ARTO had impounded a vehicle allegedly belonging to the Army for violating traffic norms. Following this, a group of army personnel, reportedly led by a colonel and a major, reached the local police station and demanded the release of the vehicle. When police officials refused, the army personnel allegedly assaulted the station staff, including the station house officer (SHO).
According to the police complaint, the army personnel forcibly entered the police station, abused the staff, and physically attacked them. The complaint names 40 individuals, including the colonel and major, and has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including assault and criminal intimidation.
Impact and Response
The incident has sparked tension in the region, with local authorities condemning the act. A senior police officer stated, "Such behavior is unacceptable and undermines the rule of law. We have registered a case and will take appropriate action." The Army has not yet issued an official statement, but sources indicate that an internal inquiry has been initiated.
This is not the first instance of friction between the Army and civil administration in Jammu and Kashmir, but the scale of this incident is unprecedented. The police have assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted, and all accused will be brought to justice.
