4 JKP Cops sustained injuries in the assault.

||Black and White Digital News||

||Tejveer Singh May 30, 2024||

Kupwara, May 29.

In a dramatic and shocking turn of events, four police officers in Kupwara district, north Kashmir, were allegedly assaulted by army soldiers, leading to a major conflict between the two security forces. The police have lodged a formal complaint against the soldiers, invoking serious charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), while the army has denied the allegations, calling them “incorrect.”

The tension began to escalate when a police team conducted a raid at the house of a Territorial Army soldier. According to officials, this raid infuriated the army, prompting a group of soldiers, led by an officer, to forcibly enter the Kupwara police station. It was here that they reportedly thrashed four police personnel, comprising two Special Police Officers (SPOs) and two constables. The injured officers were subsequently admitted to the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Soura, Srinagar, for specialized treatment.

In response to this unprecedented incident, the police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the army personnel. The FIR includes a litany of charges:

Section 186: Voluntary obstruction of a public servant in the discharge of public duty.

Section 332: Voluntarily causing harm to deter a public servant from performing their duty.

Section 307: Attempt to murder.

Section 342: Wrongful confinement.

Section 147: Rioting.

Section 149: Every member of an unlawful assembly guilty of an offense in prosecution of a common object.

Section 392: Robbery.

Section 397: Use of deadly weapon during a robbery or dacoity.

Section 365: Kidnapping and abduction with the intent to secretly and wrongfully confine a person.

Despite the serious allegations, the army has categorically denied any misconduct. They have dismissed the claims of their personnel assaulting the police officers, terming the entire report as “incorrect.” This conflicting narrative has only added to the complexity of the situation, raising questions about what truly transpired.

The raid that sparked the altercation was reportedly carried out at the home of a Territorial Army soldier. This incident underscores the delicate balance and often tense relationship between different security agencies operating in conflict-prone regions like Jammu & Kashmir. The allegation that army personnel retaliated violently against police actions poses significant concerns about inter-agency cooperation and discipline.

As the FIR has been lodged and the matter officially recorded, an investigation is underway to determine the facts of the case. Both the police and army are critical components of security in Jammu & Kashmir, and this incident threatens to undermine the coordination essential for maintaining law and order in the region.

The local community in Kupwara is left in a state of unease and uncertainty. Such incidents of internal conflict between security forces can erode public trust and create an environment of fear. It remains crucial for the authorities to handle this situation with transparency and justice to prevent any further escalation.

In a region already beset by complex security challenges, this incident is a stark reminder of the volatility that can arise from inter-agency clashes. The outcome of the investigation and the response from both police and army hierarchies will be closely watched, as it will likely set a precedent for future interactions between the forces in Jammu & Kashmir.