Karachi, In a harrowing account from Poonch district in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, civilians have spoken out about the severe abuse they endured in Indian forces’ custody. This revelation follows the tragic death of three civilians who were subjected to merciless beatings by occupation troops.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Mohammad Ashraf, a 52-year-old man currently hospitalized, recounted his and others’ experiences after being detained by Indian forces. Ashraf, along with four others, was admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Rajouri on Saturday. He detailed the physical torture they faced, including being stripped, beaten with rods and lathis (batons), and having chili powder rubbed into their wounds.

Ashraf, who is one of the five hospitalized, mentioned a widely circulated social media video that shows a man being brutally beaten, identifying himself as that man. He spoke of the lasting trauma and physical agony resulting from the torture. The other four hospitalized individuals are Farooq Ahmed, Fazal Hussain, and Hussain’s nephews Mohammad Betab and a 15-year-old boy, all from the Thanamandi area.

The victims, unable to stand or sit properly, rely on hospital staff for movement. Ashraf detailed his arrest from his home and the subsequent events leading to their torture at a military camp. The beatings were so severe that they resulted in loss of consciousness.

The 15-year-old boy, a class 10 student, shared that during questioning, he was accused of aiding mujahideen, a charge stemming from a feast held at his house for his brother Betab’s wedding. Both he and Betab, along with the others, were beaten mercilessly.

Betab, a laborer who had returned home for his wedding, planned to stay for a month before resuming work in Kashmir. He also described the extent of his injuries, indicating severe brutality.

This incident has sparked widespread concern and condemnation, highlighting the severe human rights violations occurring in the region. The accounts of these civilians underscore the urgent need for addressing and rectifying the situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.