Srinagar:
The killing of three civilians in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district has sparked condemnation and protests from political parties demanding justice for the victims. The three men were discovered dead on Friday, shortly after being detained by the army for questioning. Seven other villagers who were also detained have been injured and hospitalized for treatment.
Following a major terrorist attack on the army, which resulted in the death of four soldiers and injuries to three others, more than a dozen men from the Gujjar community were detained. The army has stated that search operations are ongoing, and the matter is under investigation.
Terrorist Initiated Incident at Bafliaz in Poonch-Rajouri Sector (21/ 22 Dec 23).
Search operations by the Security Forces are continuing in the area of operations after the incident of 21 Dec 23. Reports have been received regarding three civilian deaths in the area. The matter… pic.twitter.com/KLwtC2C2nm
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) December 23, 2023
Tension has gripped the area following the deaths, leading to the suspension of internet services in Poonch and Rajouri districts. A significant number of police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in Bafliaz and Surankote areas to prevent any protests, and roads leading to Bafliaz have been closed.
The government has announced that legal action will be taken regarding the incident, and compensation has been offered to the families.
“The death of three civilians was reported yesterday in Baffliaz of Poonch District. The medico-legal formalities were conducted, and legal action in this matter has been initiated by the appropriate authority,” stated the administration.
On Friday, amidst the ongoing operation to track down the terrorists behind the attack, over a dozen men in the Bufliaz area were detained by troops in full media glare. They were taken to a nearby military station for questioning. In the evening, it was reported that three men – Showkat Hussain, Reyaz Ahmad, and Mohammad Safeer – had died.
The National Conference and Apni party held protests against the civilian killings, demanding justice for the victims. Mehbooba Mufti, former chief minister and PDP leader, claimed in a press conference that the victims’ bodies had torture marks, and some villagers who were detained for questioning are now injured.
Sources indicate that the internet shutdown in the region was also prompted by a viral video showing people being beaten and tortured.
On Thursday, four soldiers were killed, and three others were injured after terrorists targeted two army vehicles on the Bafliaz-Thanamadi road. Despite launching a massive counter-terrorism operation, the terrorists managed to escape into dense forests and treacherous terrain.
The terrorist group Peoples Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), a front for Lashkar e Toiba, claimed responsibility for the attack and released pictures of the incident, indicating that they had filmed the gunfight using body-cams. The PAFF is known to use body camera footage for propaganda. A search operation is currently underway to locate the terrorists.
In April, the PAFF attacked an army truck in Poonch and filmed the incident. Following the attack, police and security forces detained a large number of locals. One individual, Mukhtar Hussain Shah, committed suicide after alleging harassment and humiliation by security forces. Before his death, Shah left a video message appealing to people to support the army in its fight against terrorism.
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