16 army personnel including 3 Lt. colonels booked for attacking J&K's Kupwara police station
The whole incident is reportedly triggered by the questioning of a Territorial Army jawan by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in an alleged drug case.
An FIR has been filed against 16 army personnel including 3 Lieutenant colonel for attempted murder and dacoity by J&K Police for alleged attack at J and K Kupwara police station.
This incident is said to have happened during the night between Tuesday and Wednesday.
The whole incident is reportedly triggered by the questioning of a Territorial Army jawan by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in an alleged drug case. The Territorial Army is comprised of part-time volunteers who provide aid and backing to the Indian Army, It is a military reserve force.
A group of armed and uniformed personnel headed by senior officers from the 160 Territorial Army were seen charging at the Kupwara police station in a video footage.
J and K Kupwara Police Station, Sparking Controversy
As per the FIR, the attackers were led by lieutenant colonels Ankit Sood, Rajiv Chauhan and Nikhil, who violently entered the premises and ruthlessly attacked the police personnel with sticks and rifle buts. Before fleeing the scene of the incident the army personnel allegedly seized the mobile phones, exhibited their weapons and even abducted a police constable.
According to the PTI, the FIR has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 307 (attempt to murder), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 147 (punishment for rioting).
The accused also face charges under sections 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 392 (punishment for robbery), 397 (robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) and 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person). In addition to that they have also been booked under the Arms Act, as per the FIR.
As per the reports, the Kupwara police superintendent is investigating the case. Officials have assured that they will soon unveil the whole crime and justice will be served.
Meanwhile, a defence spokesperson has questioned the whole incident, saying the reports of the dispute between police and army personnel and the beating of police personnel are “misfounded and incorrect”.
“Minor differences between the police personnel and a Territorial Army unit on an operational matter have been amicably resolved,” the spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday.
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