6 cops hurt in scuffle with armymen in Kashmir

Police registers FIR against Army for 'ransacking' police station

At least six policemen, including an officer, sustained injuries when Army personnel in civvies allegedly thrashed them for stopping their vehicle at a check-post in Gund area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Friday night.

Sources said the incident took place after policemen didn’t allow soldiers in civvies, who were returning from Amarnath yatra, to proceed towards Srinagar.

Under the standing written order of the Inspector General Police (IGP) for the safety of the pilgrims, nobody is allowed to move on the yatra route beyond the 7 pm deadline.

After heated arguments were exchanged, the soldiers in civvies without showing any identification came down from the vehicles and started thrashing the on-duty officials, resulting in injuries to an assistant sub inspector and five other policemen, they said. Later an army party from 24 Rashtriya Rifles headed by captain Shukla raided police station Gund and also ransacked the office records.

PRO Defence Col Rajesh Kalia tried to downplay the incident. “A minor altercation took place between some Army personnel returning from Amarnath yatra in civvies and police personnel at Gund. No major injuries were reported in the incident and the matter has been resolved by the personal intervention of senior officers.” “Measures to prevent recurrence have been taken,” he added.

However, SSP Ganderbal Fayaz Lone said SSP the incident occurred after army soldiers in civvies were not allowed to move ahead during night hours after 2 am. “Soldiers, who were in civil dress, barged into the police station at Gund and beat up the police men including officers and even ransacked the station. Army has initiated an inquiry into the incident,” he told reporters.

Police have registered a case FIR No. 18/2017 against the army men for attacking a police station and thrashing cops on duty. The injured policemen were shifted to a hospital.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah demanded action against the erring army men. “Why would the army beat up J&K police personnel in a police station? This requires immediate clarification/action by the authorities,” he tweeted.