4 'beaten up' at J&K army camp

Four men were allegedly roughed up at an army camp in the Kishtwar district of Jammu & Kashmir after they were picked up for questioning over the killings of two defence volunteers and a soldier by terrorists, people aware of the matter said on Thursday, prompting the region's parties to accuse the force of torturing civilians.

- Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

According to them, Sajad Ahmed (37), Abdul Kabir (32), Mushtaq Ahmed (37) and Mehrajud-Din (40), all residents of the Kwath Mughal Maidan village, were hauled up by the army on November 20 on suspicion of helping terrorists who killed village defence guards Nazir Ahmed and Kuldeep Kumar and Naib Sudebar Rakesh Kumar in separate incidents earlier in the month. They were taken to a Rashtriya Rifles camp in Chas, where they were allegedly beaten up. They were let off in the evening on the same day, the people added.

Nagrota-based White Knight Corps said the army has launched a probe into the incident. "Based on specific intelligence of the move of a group of terrorists in the Kishtwar Sector, an operation was launched by Rashtriya Rifles on 20 November 2024. There are some reports on the alleged ill treatment of civilians during the conduct of the operation. An investigation is being launched to ascertain the facts. Necessary follow up action will be ensured," it said in a post on X.

Saying that the men sustained injuries to their faces, backs and legs, a relative of one of them, Irshad Goarwal, said, "These men work as labourers and are now being treated at the army hospital at Bhandarkot."