By Admin 
Jammu and Kashmir Police has registered a case against several Army personnel, including an Army Commanding Officer, for entering a police station in Kishtwar district, attacking policemen and damaging government property. The Army said on Thursday (25 June 2026) that the matter is being investigated and appropriate action will be taken on the basis of joint investigation.
Police seized army officer’s car
According to officials, the incident took place when the police team stopped and confiscated the personal vehicle of an army officer for alleged traffic violation. The FIR lodged at the Atholi police station states that the incident took place on June 24 when station in-charge Inspector Amrit Kotach had gone to the office of the Paddar Block Development Officer to attend a meeting, which was being presided over by the Deputy Commissioner.
In his complaint, Kotach said that he received a call informing him that a violent attack was carried out as part of a criminal conspiracy within the police station premises and that the incident took place on the direct instructions of N Arun Gandhi, Commanding Officer of 17 Rashtriya Rifles (RR). Station in-charge said that under the leadership of Major Vikas Sharma and Naib Subedar Shankar Gurkhe, about 30 to 40 personnel of Camp Kijayi of 17 RR carried out a pre-planned attack on the police station.
Army soldiers had brought iron rods: Police station in-charge
He told that the attackers had entered the police station by climbing the main gate and boundary wall and were carrying sticks, iron rods and other weapons. He said, ‘Their aim was to cause fatal injuries and kill the policemen on duty.’ He also told that he immediately returned to the police station, where Major Sharma allegedly assaulted him.
According to the FIR, the army personnel allegedly tore Kotach’s uniform and also assaulted SDPO Vijay Kumar Bhagat, who had reached the spot. The SHO said, ‘The accused army personnel also brutally assaulted the policemen deployed at the spot with a common criminal intention.’ He told that Special Police Officer Suresh Kumar was hit on the neck with the butt of the service rifle, due to which he suffered serious injuries. He said that many other policemen on duty were also injured in this unprovoked attack.
Accused of damaging government property
The FIR also states that the army personnel also assaulted the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) of Kishtwar and his personal security officers inside the police station. According to the case registered, the attackers also caused extensive damage to government and public property, which included damaging the official vehicles of ARTO, vehicles of SDPO and SHO and breaking the main gate of the police station.
The FIR states that the acts of the accused fall under cognizable offenses under relevant provisions of the Indian Justice Code. These include unlawful assembly, rioting, unauthorized entry into house, intentionally causing hurt and grievous hurt, assault on public servants engaged in government duty, attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, vandalism/damage to government property and other related offences. Along with this, provisions of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act have also been implemented.
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