Srinagar, June 25, KDC: Police in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district have registered a case against several Army personnel, including a Major, a Naib Subedar and other soldiers of 17 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), over allegations of forcibly entering Police Station Atholi, assaulting police personnel and senior officers, causing damage to government property and committing other offences during an incident that allegedly took place on June 24.
According to FIR No. 17/2026 registered at Police Station Atholi, a copy of which lies with news agency Kashmir Dot Com, the case has been lodged under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, including Section 109 of the BNS relating to attempt to murder, along with charges pertaining to rioting, assault on public servants, criminal intimidation, unlawful assembly and damage to public property.
The FIR was registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by Police Station Atholi following an incident reported at around 12:20 pm on June 24.
As per the police version recorded in the FIR, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Police Station Atholi was attending the Block Diwas programme at the BDO Office, Paddar, when he was informed telephonically that a violent incident had occurred inside the police station premises.
The FIR alleges that a group of around “30 to 40 Army personnel” from 17 RR Camp Kijayee, allegedly led by Major Vikas Sharma and Naib Subedar Shanker Gurkhe, entered the police station premises. The FIR further alleges that the group acted under the “direct instructions and commands” of Commanding Officer N. Arun Gandhi of 17 RR.
According to the allegations contained in the FIR, the Army personnel were armed with “lathis, iron rods, and arms and ammunition” and entered the police station by climbing over the main gate and boundary wall. Police have alleged that the group forcibly trespassed into the premises and assaulted police personnel present there.
The FIR states that when the SHO returned to the police station after receiving information about the incident, he was allegedly assaulted during the altercation and his uniform shirt was torn. Police have also alleged that SDPO Atholi Vijay Kumar Bhagat was assaulted during the incident.
According to the FIR, several police personnel sustained injuries. The complaint specifically alleges that SPO Suresh Kumar was struck on the neck with the butt of a rifle, resulting in serious injuries. Police have further alleged that the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Kishtwar and his Personal Security Officers, who happened to be present inside the police station premises, were also assaulted.
The FIR additionally alleges that government property was damaged during the incident. Police claim that official vehicles belonging to the ARTO, SHO and SDPO were vandalised and that the main gate of the police station was damaged.
Police have named Major Vikas Sharma, Naib Subedar Shanker Gurkhe, GD Raj Kumar, Sepoy Rahul Kumar, Sepoy Anoop Singh and Sepoy Omkar Ingale as accused in the case. The FIR also names Commanding Officer N. Arun Gandhi and states that the identities of “30-40 other Army personnel” allegedly involved will be established during the course of the investigation.
Significantly, while the FIR names the Commanding Officer and alleges that the incident occurred under his “direct instructions and commands”, it does not specifically allege that he was among those who physically carried out the alleged assault inside the police station.
Based on the allegations, police have invoked Sections 109, 115(2), 126(2), 132, 189(2), 190, 191(2), 191(3), 221, 324(4), 324(5), 324(6), 332(b), 351(2) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Section 121(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Section 3(1) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
The investigation has been entrusted to a Sub-Inspector rank officer.
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.” (KDC)
