New Delhi: The first information report filed in the case of the death of three civilians, allegedly in Army custody, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch, has invoked the murder clause, Section 302, of the Indian Penal Code.The Hindu has reported on the FIR, filed in the Surankote police station against ‘unknown’ accused persons.News of the death of the three came as two videos were circulated, showing civilians being brutally beaten and tortured by what appeared to be men in Army uniform. The Wire has confirmed the identities of the three, all of whom belong to Topa Peer village and are members of the Gujjar Bakarwal community, which is a Scheduled Tribe. Five others, also picked up for questioning, are undergoing treatment and are grievously injured.Of them, 52-year-old Mohammad Ashraf has told Indian Express that he was one of those seen in the video and noted that chilli powder was rubbed on wounds created by the beatings that they were subjected to.Ashraf speaking from his hospital bed, claimed he and four others were picked up by security forces last week after which “they removed our clothes and beat us with lathis and iron rods, and rubbed chilli powder on our wounds”.Family members and neighbours of the three deceased – Safeer Hussain (48), Mohammad Showkat (28) and Shabbir Ahmad (25) – said their bodies, once handed over to their families, appeared severely injured.The Army has ordered a court of inquiry.“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, according to the Hindu.The report also quotes local MP Gulam Ali, who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2022, as having said that the Indian Army is a professional force.
