The army has said it would take strict action if anything is wrong. (Representational)
The army is investigating the disappearance of a man after he was allegedly detained by soldiers at a remote village of Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir. Another man who was also allegedly detained, has been released. Doctors say he is injured and is undergoing treatment. The police said they have filed a case of kidnapping, disappearance and torture against the 27 Rashtriya Rifles. It is not known yet why the men had been picked up.
"We want to get into the bottom of it. We want to know what exactly had happened. If we find anything wrong, we will take strict action. I want tell people that the army is on their side and we are here for their protection," said Major General AK Singh, the General Officer Commanding of Kilo Force.
Manzoor Ahmad, 23 and Nasrullah Khan were allegedly taken into custody on Thursday at Dever village. The men were out to graze cattle at the time, their families said. Nasrullah Khan, who was released on Friday, has been admitted to a hospital in Srinagar. Doctors at the SMHS hospital say the man, who is in his 30s, is being treated for multiple burn injuries and cuts.
The police say there is no evidence yet of either man having links with terrorists. A case of kidnapping, disappearance and torture has been filed. A senior officer of 27 Rashtriya Rifles has been named in the First Information Report. "We have filed an FIR against the army unit. I have asked the Army to come clean on this," said Munir Ahmad Khan, a senior police officer. "We are investigating the case. We have also recorded the statement of eyewitnesses," he added.
Fearing trouble, the police have sealed the area and no opposition leader is being allowed to visit Dever village.
This is the first allegation of custodial disappearance in Kashmir in many years. Rights activists say around 8,000 people have gone missing in Jammu and Kashmir since the outbreak of violence in 1990. They were allegedly picked up by security forces.