Jammu and Kashmir: Indian Army initiates action against brigadier after alleged custodial deaths

In a swift disciplinary action, the Indian Army has attached the Brigade Commander of the 13 Sector Rashtriya Rifles and has initiated a formal inquiry into the deaths of 3 civilians who were taken in custody by after the recent terrorist attack in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. The victims were allegedly picked up by troops for interrogation after an attack on an Indian Army convoy in which four soldiers were martyred. News agency ANI quoted Indian Army officials as saying that the inquiry will also look into the recurrent loss of Indian troops in terrorist attacks in the area of responsibility of the officer in recent times. The deaths of the 3 civilians has reportedly sparked protests in Poonch. Meanwhile, India Army Chief General Manoj Pande visited Jammu on Monday for a review of the counterterrorism operations that are currently underway in the Poonch and Rajouri sectors. This visit follows a terrorist attack on December 21 that resulted in the deaths of four soldiers and the injuries of three others. The Indian Army chief is anticipated to get in-depth briefings from the 16 Corps and the Rashtriya Rifles during his visit about the state of counterterrorism operations at the moment and the steps being taken to fortify the local counterterrorism framework. Indian Army Headquarters is paying more attention to the situation as a result of the most recent terrorist incident. Officials in the regions where the majority of operations have occurred may face consequences, and the Army headquarters is keeping a careful eye on the issue. In addition, senior representatives from the Ministry of Defence are expected to travel to the area this week. In the Jammu region, the Indian Army has fortified its positions along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border. The purpose of this calculated action is to thwart any attempts by terrorists to cross the border from Pakistan into India. The heightened military activity in the area is also considered to be in opposition to China’s and Pakistan’s joint initiatives, which are thought to be an attempt to exert pressure on India to withdraw its troops from the Ladakh region.