On November 20, four civilians from Kuath village in Kishtwar district, Jammu—Sajad Ahmad, Abdul Kabir, Mushtaq Ahmad, and Mehraj-ud-Din—were reportedly tortured by the Indian army during an operation in the region. The victims, all daily wage labourers, were summoned to the 11 Rashtriya Rifles camp in the Chas area of Mughal Maidan for questioning about a recent militant attack.
According to the families, the men were released in severely injured conditions. Medical examinations revealed bruises and injuries consistent with physical assault. “They could barely walk; some had to be carried,” a relative shared. As the victims were being transported to a hospital, their families claim that the army stopped the vehicle at Bhanderkoot, took them back to the camp, and assured them that those responsible for the assault would be punished.
The families have demanded strict accountability for the alleged torture and are urging authorities to take action. A senior police officer confirmed that an investigation is underway, stating, “The law will take its course.”
In response, the Army’s White Knight Corps issued a statement saying, “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.”
The statement acknowledged reports of alleged ill-treatment of civilians and stated that an investigation would be launched to ascertain the facts, with necessary actions to follow.
The allegations come just two days after Northern Army Commander Lt Gen M.V. Suchindra Kumar visited the district to review the security situation. Kishtwar has been on high alert due to escalating militant activities, and the recent claims of torture have added to the tensions in the region.
The incident also echoes a similar controversy from December 2023, when three civilians were allegedly killed in army custody following their detention for questioning about an attack on army vehicles in Poonch. The case stirred public outrage and led to an Army investigation, which resulted in the relocation of the unit involved.
This year, Kishtwar has witnessed multiple violent encounters between militants and security forces, particularly along forest tracks. On November 9, militants kidnapped and killed two Village Guard Detachments (VGDs) in the upper reaches of Kishtwar. Overall, militants have claimed the lives of five people this year, including two civilians and three soldiers, in various attacks targeting security forces. 18 security personnel and 13 militants have been killed in the Jammu region in 2024.
