Srinagar, Recent reports indicate that five Kashmiri youths have been abducted and allegedly tortured by Indian forces in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. This incident has added to the growing concerns about the treatment of Kashmiris in the region.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Indian English newspaper Indian Express disclosed in its recent report that all the youths involved are from Topa Pir village in the district. The individuals have been identified as Riaz and his brother Farooq, Israel, Jameel, and Irfan. This follows an earlier incident on December 22, where eight Kashmiris were reportedly abducted, with three allegedly killed in custody and the remaining five hospitalized in Rajouri.
The latest abduction and alleged torture of these five civilians by Indian army personnel occurred amidst high-profile visits by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Army Chief Manoj Pande to the district, which might have obscured earlier reports of such incidents. The Indian army spokesperson has not provided any comments regarding these allegations.
The report further details that on December 22, 2023, eight civilians were taken from Topa Pir in Poonch district’s Bufliaz area, and another five from Rajouri district’s Thanamandi area. Israel, one of the five individuals reportedly abducted from Topa Pir, shared his experience with the Indian English daily. He recalled being summoned to an Indian army outpost, where he and others were allegedly stripped, beaten with lathis and iron rods until they lost consciousness. This “torture” continued until they were transferred to an Army camp and subsequently admitted to a hospital around midnight.
The incident raises serious questions about the conduct of Indian forces in the region and the safety and rights of the Kashmiri people.