Sixteen Indian Army personnel, including three Lieutenant Colonels, have been charged with attempted murder, dacoity (organized robbery), and other offenses following a violent attack on the Kupwara police station on the night of May 28-29, 2024.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the incident was triggered by the questioning of a Territorial Army (TA) jawan in connection with an alleged drug case. In response, a group of armed and uniformed TA personnel, accompanied by senior Army officials, stormed the police station.
Video footage appears to show the group, led by Lieutenant Colonels Ankit Sood, Rajiv Chauhan, and Nikhil, forcibly entering the premises and launching a brutal assault on the police personnel present. The FIR alleges that the attackers used rifle butts, sticks, and kicks, causing injuries. Additionally, they are accused of brandishing weapons, seizing mobile phones from the injured officers, and abducting a police constable before fleeing the scene.
Senior police officers intervened to rescue the targeted police personnel and initiate legal action against the perpetrators. The FIR has been registered under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including attempted murder, dacoity, wrongful confinement, and rioting, as well as charges under the Arms Act.
The investigation, led by the Kupwara deputy superintendent of police, aims to uncover the full extent of the crime and bring the accused individuals to justice.
While police have detailed a violent confrontation, a defence spokesperson has disputed the reports, stating that "minor differences" between the police and the TA unit were "amicably resolved." The spokesperson described the reports of an altercation and the alleged beating of police personnel as "misfounded and incorrect."
The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as authorities gather evidence and interview witnesses. The incident has raised concerns about the relationship between the Army and the police in the region, and the outcome of the investigation will likely have significant implications for both organizations.
The Territorial Army is a part-time volunteer force that provides support services to the Indian Army. Its members are typically civilians who receive military training and are called upon for specific duties as needed.
