The FIR claims that 40 soldiers, including officers, attacked the J&K police

According to the FIR, one policeman was allegedly hit on the neck with the stock of a rifle, which “resulted in serious injuries”. Police said several officers were injured during the incident. File | Photo credit: PTI

A First Information Report (FIR) was filed in Kishtwar district of the Chenab Valley on Thursday (June 25, 2026) after 40 army personnel, including two officers, allegedly barged into a police station and beat up police personnel, including officers. Police have launched an investigation into the incident and the army said it would extend “full cooperation”.

The official said the army personnel, including the commanding officer and a major, were facing charges under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for “attempt to murder, rioting, assaulting government servants, criminal intimidation, etc. at the Athol police station.”

The FIR mentioned the names of army officers, Colonel N. Arun Gandhi, Commanding Officer of 17 Rashtriya Rifles, Major Vikas Sharma, Naib Subedar Shankar Gurkhe and 30-40 other unidentified army personnel.

According to a police report based on an officer’s complaint, the “violent” incident occurred on June 24 around 12:20 p.m. According to him, a group of about 30 to 40 army personnel from RR Kijayee Army Camp 17, acting on the direct instructions and orders of the Commanding Officer, attacked the police personnel with “lathis, guns and iron ammunition”.

“The army personnel climbed over the main gate and the boundary wall. The group forcibly entered the compound and attacked the policemen present there,” the police said.

A local Station House Officer, who returned to the police station after the reports, was also allegedly “assaulted during the altercation and his uniform shirt was torn”, besides Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Atholi Vijay Kumar Bhagat.

The police used § 109, 115 paragraph 2, 126 paragraph 2, 132, 189 paragraph 2, 190, 191 paragraph 2, 191 paragraph 3, 221, 324 paragraph 4, 324 paragraph 5, 324 paragraph 6, 332 letter 121(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Section 3(1) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act after an Incident.

According to the FIR, one policeman was allegedly hit on the neck with the stock of a rifle, which “resulted in serious injuries”. Police said several officers were injured during the incident.

The FIR suggested that the attackers caused “extensive damage to government and public property, vandalized official vehicles and damaged the main gate of the police station”. It claimed that the attack was “pre-planned and army personnel wanted to kill police personnel on duty”.

Police said an officer of the rank of sub-inspector has been tasked with the investigation.

Responding to the allegations, a defense spokesman said: “The matter is being reviewed through the appropriate institutional mechanisms. The Army will extend its full cooperation to the legal process.”

An army spokesman said appropriate action would be taken based on the outcome of the joint investigation. It would be premature to comment further at this stage while the investigation is ongoing, he said.

Published – 25 Jun 2026 12:56 IST