Accident – death – Obituary News :

Army Assures Cooperation in Investigation of Civilian Deaths in Poonch Attack

Reacting to the incident regarding the death of three civilians at the site of an anti-militancy operation in Poonch following the killing of five soldiers in a terrorist attack on Thursday, the Army has said it stands committed to extending full cooperation to the investigations.

The concerned authorities have received reports regarding the unfortunate demise of three civilians in the area. The matter is currently under investigation, and the Indian Army assures its complete support and cooperation in the conduct of these investigations. The Army is determined to bring justice to the victims and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.

The deceased civilians have been identified as Safeer Hussain, aged 43, Mohammad Showket, aged 27, and Mohammad Shabir, aged 32, all residents of village Topi. Their bodies were discovered under suspicious circumstances near the site of an ambush by terrorists at Dera Ki Gali in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district on Thursday.

In response to the tragic incident, the Jammu and Kashmir government has announced the initiation of legal action concerning the deaths of the civilians. Additionally, the government has pledged compensation and job opportunities for the families of the deceased, aiming to provide them with support during this difficult time.

The Information and Public Relations Office of Jammu and Kashmir posted on X, stating, “The death of three civilians was reported yesterday in Baffliaz of Poonch District. Medico-legal formalities were conducted, and appropriate legal action has been initiated. The government announced compensation and compassionate appointments for each deceased. Additionally, security forces launched a massive cordon-and-search operation in the area following the attack.”

Several political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have raised concerns over the incident, alleging that the three men found dead were among those detained by the Army for questioning in connection with the previous day’s attack that claimed the lives of four soldiers and injured two.

The National Conference (NC) has demanded a thorough inquiry into the civilian deaths. Ali Mohammad Sagar, the general secretary of NC, condemned the killing of both soldiers and innocent civilians. He called for an inquiry into the deaths, alongside the ongoing National Investigation Agency (NIA) inquiry.

Mehbooba Mufti, the former chief minister and president of the Peoples Democratic Party, expressed deep concern over the situation in Rajouri and Poonch. She demanded a comprehensive investigation into the civilian killings during the Army operation, highlighting signs of torture on their bodies. Mufti criticized the authorities’ silence and claimed that normalcy amid such brutality is unimaginable in the region.

Mufti highlighted that out of the 15 individuals detained from Topa village, three were found dead, while others were hospitalized with alleged signs of mistreatment. She criticized the BJP’s ‘Naya Kashmir’ slogan, stating that even the Army doesn’t feel secure in this version of Kashmir. Mufti blamed the central government and state administration, expressing concern over the escalating situation, citing distressing incidents and restrictions on freedom of expression. She emphasized a pattern of suppressing dissent and challenged the BJP’s claims of normalcy.

Referring to past incidents like the Amshipora case, Mufti questioned the integrity of the justice system and urged an immediate probe into the Poonch incident. She demanded compensation for the victims’ families and emphasized the need for accountability and swift action against those responsible.

Meanwhile, a search operation is currently underway in the area to track down the terrorists behind the ambush. Aerial monitoring of the area is being conducted with the assistance of helicopters. The Army has also deployed sniffer dogs to aid in tracing the perpetrators of the attack.

In light of the tensions following the death of the three civilians, the mobile telephone network has been temporarily suspended in Poonch to maintain peace and stability in the region.

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