A day after four Army jawans were killed in an ambush by unidentified terrorists in the Poonch-Rajouri area of Jammu and Kashmir, three civilians, allegedly taken in for questioning by the Army, were found dead on December 22, bearing multiple injuries. Five more persons have been admitted to hospital with serious injuries.

A 29-second video showing Army personnel stripping the three men and applying chilli powder is viral on social media. The men are seen lying lifeless on the floor with severe wounds on their back.?

The videos, revealing the alleged torture of the detained civilians, sparked widespread anger online.

Who are the 3 men killed?

The three men were identified by the J&K police as Mohammad Showkat (22) Safeer Hussain (45) and Shabir Ahmad (32).

A compensation of Rs 10 lakh has been announced for the families of these victims.?

Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir condemned the incident and demanded an inquiry.

1. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti

“Had this happened under any other government, the godi media would have raised questions. They picked up 15 people from their homes who were tortured. Three of them have already been killed. So, how is this ‘Khushal Kashmir’ or ‘Naya Kashmir’ where neither Armymen nor common people are safe?”

2. Peoples Conference (PC) Chief Sajad Lone

The loss of civilian life in Poonch is a grim reminder of the challenges that we still face. The last three decades have been dotted with such heinous acts.?

Non-combatants have paid a heavy price.?

Let truth be told. In some cases there was total denial. In some cases cosmetic condemnation.?

Maybe time has come to have an institutional mechanism to ensure transparency in such cases and punishment as per the law of the land.?

Zero tolerance to terror has to be followed up with zero tolerance towards rogue terror.?

Our prayers with the families.

3. Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) Chief Omar Abdullah

If the allegations of custodial killings are correct this is an unacceptable misuse of force & the protection afforded to security forces via AFSPA. Even asking for a transparent inquiry & punishment for any violations of human rights seems pointless given how those who are found guilty are released scot-free without serving their punishment. This is not the way to remove “dil ki doori or Dilli se doori”.

4. Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

The Hurriyat Conference, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, “expressed deep regret and sorrow at the killing of three civilians”.

“This incident should be thoroughly investigated by the agencies concerned and the perpetrators brought to book,” the Hurriyat said in a statement.

Jammu and Kashmir government initiates legal action

The Information and Public Relations Department of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday posted on X that legal action had been initiated in the matter. “The death of three civilians was reported yesterday in Baffliaz of Poonch district. The medical legal formalities was conducted and legal action in this matter has been initiated by the appropriate authority. Government has announced compensation for each of the deceased. Further, government has also announced compassionate appointments to the next of kin of each deceased,” it said.

Internet services suspended in Poonch and Rajouri

Mobile Internet services were abruptly suspended in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Rajouri districts early on December 23 as security forces intensified their extensive search operation.

The suspension of mobile Internet services in the twin border districts followed the killing of three civilians.

Poonch and Rajouri districts, located in the Pir Panjal region in the Jammu division, have experienced a significant increase in militancy-related incidents in the years after the Union government abrogated Article 370 and downgraded the erstwhile state into two union territories.

While the Kashmir valley has witnessed a decrease in violence after years of shutdowns, clashes, and encounters, the Pir Panjal region has become the new theater of insurgency.