Kishtwar, June 25 (KNB): Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered a case against an Army Commanding Officer, several soldiers, and dozens of unidentified personnel in connection with an alleged assault on a Station House Officer (SHO) and damage to police property at Police Station Atholi in the Paddar area of Kishtwar district.
According to official sources, the incident was preceded by the seizure of a vehicle bearing registration number JK14L-4580 by the Additional Superintendent of Police (Addl. SP) Kishtwar and the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Kishtwar at Kijaie Paddar on June 24. The vehicle, reportedly associated with 17 Rashtriya Rifles, was allegedly found obstructing the main road.
Sources said that around 12:30 PM, a group of approximately 50 to 60 Army personnel allegedly entered Police Station Atholi and misbehaved with police personnel present on the premises. During the incident, the SHO of Police Station Atholi was allegedly assaulted, while damage was also reportedly caused to police station property.
Following the incident, the Army personnel left the police station premises. Senior police officers, including the Addl. SP Kishtwar, SDPO Atholi, and SHO Atholi, remained present at the station, and the situation was stated to be under close monitoring.
Police have registered FIR No. 17/2026 at Police Station Atholi under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections related to assault, obstruction of public servants, unlawful assembly, and criminal intimidation, along with Section 3(1) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
The FIR names Commanding Officer N. Arun Gandhi, Major Vikas Sharma, Naib Subedar Shanker Gurkhe, GD Raj Kumar, Sepoy Rahul Kumar, Sepoy Anoop Singh, Sepoy Omkar Ingale, and 30–40 other Army personnel whose identities are yet to be ascertained.
Responding to the allegations, Defence PRO Jammu Lt Col Suneel Bartwal told Kashmir Dot Com that “The matter pertains to an FIR registered by the local police in Atholi, Kishtwar. The matter is under examination through the appropriate institutional mechanisms. Indian Army will extend full cooperation in the legal process. Appropriate actions will be taken based on the outcome of the joint investigation. At this stage it would be premature to comment further while the investigations are in progress.”
Further investigation into the matter is underway. (KNB)