FIR Against Army Officers Over Kishtwar Station Assault

Police in Jammu and Kashmir have filed a criminal case against the commanding officer of the 17 Rashtriya Rifles and several other Army personnel following an alleged assault on a police station in Kishtwar district. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, June 24, has triggered a joint investigation and raised serious questions about civil-military relations in the sensitive region.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) registered at Atholi police station, the altercation began after a private vehicle belonging to an Army official was intercepted and seized by police for alleged traffic violations. The FIR states that the vehicle was taken to the police station following a dispute on a narrow road.

Subsequently, between 30 and 40 personnel from the 17 Rashtriya Rifles, led by Major Vikash Sharma and Naib Subedar Shankar Gurkhe, allegedly launched what the police describe as a "preplanned" attack. The complaint alleges the group scaled the main gate and boundary wall of the police station while armed with lathis, iron rods, and other weapons. The FIR claims the assault was carried out under the direct instructions of the unit's Commanding Officer, Colonel N. Arun Gandhi.