A detailed investigation by The Caravan Magazine has revealed that two high-ranking army generals allegedly oversaw the torture and murder of civilians in the wake of a militant ambush in Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir.
The incident, which occurred between December 21 and 22, 2023, involved Operation Pangai, ostensibly aimed at capturing militants but reportedly turned into a mass torture event.
“In this story we have found solid evidence that the Indian Army tortured 25 civilians and killed 3 in a coordinated operation in the restive Jammu region on 22 December,” says senior journalist Jatinder Kaur who wrote the investigative piece.
“Video evidence indicates senior military officers were likely giving directions for the torture in three separate army bases to three different companies,” she said in a post on X.
According to the report, after militants attacked an army convoy, killing four and beheading two soldiers, Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain and Major General Maneesh Gupta, among others, organized the operation from the Echo Company Base at Dera Ki Gali. The operation led to the arrest of 26 men from the Gujjar community across Rajouri and Poonch districts, where they were subjected to severe torture in three army posts.
Witness accounts describe brutal beatings, the use of chili powder, drowning, and electrocution, resulting in three civilian deaths. Videos of the torture were leaked, sparking outrage online.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.
