Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, June 19: An FIR has been lodged against Major, a JCO and other Army personnel of 16 RR after they allegedly beat up Station House Officer (SHO) Rajouri, Insp Sameer Jeelani on Mughal Road this afternoon.
Official sources said that an FIR No. 234/ 2021 under Sections 341/342/323 IPC has been registered at Police Station Surankote, against Army Major Santosh Pandey, JCO Naresh, Sepoy Gagan and others for manhandling SHO Rajouri Sameer Jeelani at Poshana Army post on Mughal Road at around 2.15 pm today.
The incident took place when Insp Jeelani along with his PSO in civil, was going to SKIMS, Soura in Srinagar to see his ailing mother admitted there. When SHO reached Poshana, the Army jawans stopped his vehicle. The jawans did not allow to move his Scorpio vehicle ahead stating that there was no orders to release vehicles towards Kashmir. Upon this, the SHO himself moved to the Post and conveyed that he was SHO posted at Rajouri and going to Srinagar Hospital where his ailing mother was admitted.
There was some exchange of heated arguments on both sides then Army jawans dragged SHO to nearby unit where Major Pandey, a CHM and about a dozen jawans beat up the SHO. Four Police jawans also deployed at the post for joint checking, were taking food and rushed for the rescue of the police officer.
Then some police force from Bahram Galla Police Post also reached there. SSP Poonch, Vinod Kumar along with SDPO and SHO Surankote also reached there after some time. Brigadier and Commanding Officer of the Army unit (16 RR) reached there and they tried to settle the issue. But the Police officers were highly annoyed over the behaviour of Army men. Later, SHO was shifted to SDH Surankote for Medical examination and then an FIR was registered against the Major and other soldiers at Surankote Police Station.
Meanwhile, there was strong protest against Army for manhandling SHO at Rajouri town this evening.The people condemned the incident and demanded strern action against the men in uniform responsible for the act. They alleged that harassment of general public on Mughal Road was routine affair these days.
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