Got Rs 25,000, free ration from Army: Father of Kishtwar ‘torture’ victim

Sitting in a mud house in Kuath village of Chas area in Kishtwar, 60-year-old Abdul Rashid awaits the return of his son, Mushtaq Ahmad, who is undergoing treatment at an Army facility. Mushtaq was among four men allegedly beaten by soldiers on suspicion of aiding terrorists in the forest area. These terrorists are believed to have been responsible for killing two Village Defence Guards (VDGs) and a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) earlier this month.

Following public outrage over the incident, the Army initiated a probe and promised support to the affected families, providing them Rs 25,000 each and free ration for three months. “While we cannot accept what has happened to our sons, the Army has supported us with money and ration,” said Abdul. He added that his son and the others—Sajad Ahmad, Abdul Kabir, and Mehraj-ud-Din—remain in poor condition at the Army facility.

“We are allowed to meet them daily, but their condition is dire. They seem unlikely to walk for a long time,” Abdul lamented. Being daily-wage labourers, the incident has not only caused emotional distress but also severe financial hardship for their families.

Last Wednesday, photos and videos of the four men, showing bruises on their faces and bodies, went viral in Jammu and Kashmir. The incident drew widespread condemnation, prompting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to call for a transparent inquiry and the court-martial of the soldiers responsible for the act.

According to Abdul, the Army summoned the four men to a local camp based on a false tip-off from someone in the village, leading to the alleged torture. Mushtaq, who supports a family of six siblings, including five sisters, lives in a modest mud house with four rooms. The other families involved are similarly impoverished.

Farooq Ahmed Kripak, the former Sarpanch of Keshwan panchayat, stated that senior police and Army officials had assured stringent action against the perpetrators. “The Army is also providing ration to these poor families, which has been a relief in these trying times,” he said.

Kishtwar district has seen a rise in terror activities, with intelligence agencies suspecting that Pakistani infiltrators have reached the mountainous region and were carrying out attacks on security forces. These terrorists are believed to receive support from local Over Ground Workers (OGWs), as surviving in dense forest areas without external help is difficult.

Meanwhile, the Army’s investigation into the incident continues, with assurances of accountability and support for the victims’ recovery.