Poonch-Rajouri custodial deaths: police file FIR against ‘unknown’ personnel

The FIR filed in the alleged custodial death in the Poonch-Rajouri sector stated that in the aftermath of the terror incident on December 21, Army troops detained a few youths for questioning and three of them succumbed to injuries and “as such a cognizable offence under section 302 of IPC is made out

The First Information Report (FIR) filed in the alleged custodial death in the Poonch-Rajouri sector stated that in the aftermath of the terror incident on December 21, Army troops detained a few youths for questioning and three of them succumbed to injuries and “as such a cognizable offence under section 302 of IPC is made out”.

The FIR has been filed by the Surankote police station against “unknown” accused persons. Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) pertains to murder.

Also read | Three officers in Poonch area attached as Army probes three civilian deaths

The FIR accessed by The Hindu said that at about 5.25 p.m. on December 22, based on “information made available to this police station in the aftermath of the terror incident near DKG (Dera ki Gali) on 21-12-2023, army troops were carrying out searches in the general areas of Topi Peer, Sawni and Buffliaz to locate the terrorists who escaped after the attack. During such searches army troops detained a few local youths for questioning.”

It added that three of them — Safeer Hussain, Mohd Showkat and Shabir Ahmad, all residents of Topi Buffliaz, Tehsil Surankote — have succumbed to the injuries.

“As such a cognizable offence under section 302 of IPC is made out. On this information instant case stands registered. As the instant case is of special nature which is 3rd of its kind from the said village and 3rd of its kind during the current year, whereas 41st case of special nature of current year, Special report-A will be submitted separately and investigation taken up,” the FIR said.

The lone Gujjar MP in Jammu and Kashmir said on Monday that the cause of death of the three men who were alleged to have been killed in Army’s custody on December 22 will be known after the enquiry is concluded.