Killing of 3 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir: Army orders Court of Inquiry, changes in levels of command likely

Four Army personnel were killed and another three injured Thursday in the ambush near Topa Pir while they were on their way from Bafliaz in Poonch to Thanamandi in Rajouri where a Rashtriya Rifles unit is located.

Sources said the bodies of two soldiers were found mutilated. Despite extensive cordon and search operations launched by the Army, the militants have not been traced so far.

Three of eight civilians picked up by security forces Friday morning for questioning in connection with the ambush were found dead at night, leading to huge outrage in the region.

The remaining five civilians were admitted with injuries to a government hospital in Rajouri. The eight, their relatives alleged, had been tortured during questioning.

The three civilians found dead were Topa Pir’s Safeer Ahmed, Mohammad Showkat and Shabir Ahmed. Their burial took place Saturday amidst restrictions on inter-district movement between Bafliaz in Poonch and Thanamandi side of Dehra Ki Gali in Rajouri, and suspension of mobile internet services in the two border districts.

On Saturday, while the J&K administration did not comment on the cause of the death of the three civilians, it said legal action had been initiated and compensation announced. The Army said the matter was under investigation, and that it was “committed to extending full support and cooperation in the conduct of investigations”.

The Indian Express has learnt that the Army’s internal probe will be conducted by a separate formation based in Akhnoor – it’s also part of the Nagrota-based XVI Corps which is responsible for areas south of the Pir Panjal range – and will include other agencies like the Jammu and Kashmir Police to ensure impartiality.

The fast-track probe is likely to be completed in 72 hours and will also likely involve the investigation into the ambush.

Officials told The Indian Express that a change of command at various levels is likely to take place in XVI Corps. While a few of these were planned earlier, some could take place in response to the killing of civilians.

This could include moving out two senior officers from their current appointments because of lack of command and control, even as the inquiry will establish if lapses on their part, if any, merit punishment. There is, however, no official word on this. Sources said no posting order to this effect has been issued so far.

Additionally, XVI Corps Commander Lt General Sandeep Jain will soon be moving to the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun as Commandant, and Lt General Navin Sachdeva will take charge of the Corps. Incidentally, Lt General Sachdeva is also from Garhwal Rifles, the same regiment to which the Rashtriya Rifles unit in Thanamandi is attached.

Meanwhile, the J&K Police has registered an FIR against “unknown” persons under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) at Surankote police station in Poonch in connection with the death of the three civilians and injuries to five others.

Disclosing this, BSF Head Constable Noor Ahmed, elder brother of Safeer Ahmed who was one of the three civilians killed, said he had been informed by police that FIR No. 394 had been registered at Surankote police station. He said he had not yet received a copy of the FIR.

On Saturday, the J&K administration, referring to the death of three civilians in Bafliaz, said “the medico legal formalities were conducted and legal action in this matter” had been initiated by the “appropriate authority”.

(A PTI report from Jammu quoting officials said a high-level team of police and civil officers on Sunday assured enhanced security arrangements in the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.

The assurance was given by the Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Vijay Kumar during an interaction with various civil society delegations in the Poonch district, officials said.

Accompanied by Jammu Inspector General of Police Anand Jain and Deputy Inspector General of Police, Rajouri-Poonch range, Haseeb Mughal, the Divisional Commissioner and the ADGP visited Poonch to assess the security situation following Thursday’s ambush.)

Officials said that in the wake of the ambush, the area is likely to see an increase in deployment with a brigade of a reserve formation being called in.

The latest attack reinforces the security establishment’s assessment that terror incidents away from the Valley, where militant ranks have been staring at a leadership vacuum, are high visibility strikes, intended to inflict maximum damage. Areas south of the Pir Panjal are also easier to access.