Rajouri, April 18 — Indian military has ordered a ‘probe’ after several residents were allegedly thrashed during a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, according to local accounts and official sources.
Abu, a resident who witnessed the incident said that troops stopped a civilian vehicle at a checkpoint late Thursday and began assaulting the occupants.
“There was no provocation. They dragged one boy out and started beating him. Others were pushed around too,” he said.
Military officials said the operation was launched following credible inputs about militant movement in a vehicle passing through the area. “When a vehicle was stopped, one person attempted to snatch a soldier’s weapon, which led to a scuffle,” an official said.
However, local residents rejected this version, stating that the situation escalated due to the conduct of the personnel, not because of any provocation. “We’ve seen this before. They act first and justify later,” Abu noted.
In a statement, the military said it remains committed to the highest standards of professionalism and that any misconduct by personnel will be addressed under the law. “An inquiry has been initiated and appropriate action will be taken if anyone is found guilty.”
The military also appealed to the public for cooperation in ongoing counter-militancy operations, saying that collective efforts are essential for maintaining peace and security in the region.
Militant attacks have been rising in the Pir Panjal, Chenab and Jammu regions since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution in August 2019, with
human rights violations reported over the past few years.
Locals say these violations are routinely buried under the guise of internal probes, which rarely offer justice or accountability.
(JKNS Inputs)