In the Poonch region of Jammu and Kashmir, five civilians, including a lineman identified as Mohammad Ashraf (52), have alleged severe mistreatment by security forces.
The ordeal began last week when they were picked up by security forces in connection with the killing of four Army soldiers in a militant ambush, according to a report published in The Indian Express.
TIE quoted one of the victims named Ashraf saying that he and the other detainees were subjected to brutal treatment.
They claim to have been stripped, beaten with lathis and iron rods, and even had chilli powder rubbed on their wounds until they lost consciousness. Ashraf revealed that he is the person seen in a viral video being mercilessly beaten by Army personnel.
The civilians were taken into custody after the ambush, and three of them allegedly lost their lives during questioning. The five survivors, including Ashraf, were admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Rajouri. They are reported to be suffering from "soft tissue injuries," and none of them can stand or sit up properly.
Ashraf, a lineman with J&K's Power Development Department, has been supporting his three children since his wife's death earlier this year. The victims include Farooq Ahmed, 45, Fazal Hussain, 50, and Hussain's nephews Mohammad Betab, 25, and another aged 15, all hailing from the Thanamandi area.
The 15-year-old student also admitted to the hospital, claimed that during questioning, security personnel accused him of providing food to militants and referenced a feast held at his house eight days before the militant attack. He denied any involvement and alleged that he was beaten along with the others.
Betab, who had recently returned home for his wedding, asserted that he was also subjected to severe beatings. "There is no skin left on my upper body," he stated, emphasizing the brutality of the treatment.
The detainees recounted being picked up from their homes, with the security forces allegedly taking them to a camp at DKG (Dehra Ki Gali). They claimed that their mobile phones were confiscated, and they were subjected to physical abuse without any explanation. The 15-year-old victim added that after being allowed to return home by the police initially, they were later summoned by Army personnel.
However, the Army's Public Relations Officer (PRO) has denied any knowledge of the five men admitted to the Rajouri hospital. The incident raises concern about the alleged mistreatment of civilians by security forces and calls for a thorough investigation into the matter.
As the news unfolds, questions arise about the circumstances leading to the detainment, the treatment meted out to the civilians, and the conflicting accounts between the victims and the Army PRO.