‘Assault’ by soldiers in civvies leaves eight J&K cops injured

Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 22

Eight policemen were injured in an alleged assault by soldiers in civvies in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, the police said today. While a police station was also ransacked, the Army described it as a “minor altercation”.

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A senior police official said the incident happened after a vehicle was pulled over at a checkpoint at Sonmarg resort last night. The checkpoint was set up to prevent vehicles carrying Amarnath pilgrims from moving beyond the evening deadline, the official said.

The occupants — all soldiers returning from pilgrimage — however, thrashed a police officer and breached the checkpoint. The vehicle was stopped at another checkpoint a few kilometres down the road at Gund.

“At Gund, they thrashed more policemen. After reinforcements arrived, they were taken to the police station,”  Ganderbal SP Fayaz Ahmad told The Tribune.

“An Army unit arrived at the police station and assaulted those present. They also damaged the police station,” the officer said. Eight policemen, including two officers, were injured and were taken to hospital, he added.

Another police official posted in Gund claimed two companies, with around 120 personnel, from a nearby Army unit forcibly entered the police station and ransacked it. “They damaged LCDs, computers and other infrastructure,” he said.

A case has been registered at the Gund police station under eight sections, including attempt to murder.

The SP said Army officers had assured a court of inquiry against those involved. The police would wait for the Army’s findings before initiating any legal action, he added.