Simmering tensions between the angry residents and the civil administration were diffused in the Buffliaz area of Surankote tehsil in Poonch district late Saturday afternoon after the Union Territory administration announced adequate compensation and jobs to the kin of the three civilians who were found dead under mysterious circumstances in Poonch district late Friday evening.
The deceased civilians were identified as Safeer Hussain (43), Mohd Showket (27) and Shabir Ahmad (32) of Topa Peer village of Buffliaz. The bodies of the civilians were laid to rest at their ancestral graveyard in Buffliaz Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, massive combing and search operations continued for the second consecutive day in the Dera Ki Gali forest area to track down the perpetrators behind the ambush on two army vehicles in which four soldiers were killed in action and three others were injured.
The spokesman of the Jammu and Kashmir government in a brief statement posted on X (earlier Twitter) announced, “The death of three civilians was reported yesterday in Baffliaz of Poonch District. The medico-legal formalities were conducted and the appropriate authority has initiated legal action in this matter. The government has announced compensation for each of the deceased. Further, the Government has also announced compassionate appointments to the next of kin of each deceased”.
The Indian army also maintained that the matter is under investigation and the army authorities are committed to extending full support in the conduct of investigations.
“ Search operations by the Security Forces are continuing in the area of operations after the incident of 21 Dec 23. Reports have been received regarding three civilian deaths in the area. The matter is under investigation. Indian Army stands committed to extending full support and cooperation in the conduct of investigations”, the Indian Army said in a message on X (earlier Twitter).
During the day the mobile Internet services also remained suspended in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri to contain the spread of rumors and prevent further flare-ups amid the volatile atmosphere in the region. Senior civil and police authorities from Jammu also rushed to Surankote to handle the crisis. Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Romesh Kumar and Inspector General of Police Anand Jain were both camping in the region and interacted with the residents to diffuse the tensions.
Additional police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in sensitive pockets of the districts to maintain peace.
Soon after the recovery of three dead bodies of civilians in Surankote late Friday evening a large number of people started protest demonstrations alleging foul play behind the mysterious circumstances under which they were found dead.
The residents and relatives of the deceased alleged they were among those people who were picked up by the Army for questioning in connection with Thursday’s ambush. They also alleged that four others were admitted to a government hospital with “torture injuries”.
In Jammu, one terrorist was killed as security forces guarding the International Border (IB) thwarted an infiltration attempt early Saturday morning. White Knight Corps posted a message on X (earlier Twitter), “}
Infiltration bid foiled in IB sector of Khour, Akhnoor. The suspected move of four terrorists was seen through our own surveillance devices on the night of 22/23 Dec 23. Effective fire brought down. Terrorists were seen dragging one body back across the IB”.
In a separate incident two more civilian workers were charred to death in a fire inside an Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Saturday, police said.
Parshotam (55) of Samba and Som Raj (45) of Kathua were running a tailor shop in the Arnoda Gatt Army camp and were caught in the fire caused due to some snag in a kerosene heater, a police official said.
The fire was reported at around 2.30 am, the official said, adding that the charred bodies of both the workers were recovered from the scene and are being handed over to their next of kin for last rites.
Expressing concern over the situation unfolding in border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, Former Chief Minister and President of Peoples Democratic Party Mehbooba Mufti Saturday said that reports of civilian killings which followed the ambush of an operational team of security forces were appalling and need to be thoroughly probed.
Mufti demanded an immediate and impartial probe into the alleged deaths of three civilians, highlighting their mutilated bodies and reports of widespread torture allegedly inflicted on the detained villagers.
