Army, police deny reports of altercation in Kupwara

SRINAGAR — Conflicting reports emerged on Wednesday regarding an alleged altercation between army personnel and police officers in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, with both forces denying any significant clash.

Four policemen were admitted to SKIMS Hospital in Soura late Tuesday night, reportedly after being beaten by army personnel, a report from the news agency PTI said. Special Police Officers Rayees Khan and Imtiyaz Malik, along with constables Saleem Mushtaq and Zahoor Ahmad from Police Station Kupwara, sustained injuries but are in stable condition, they added.

The incident purportedly began when an army team, led by an officer, allegedly barged into the police station and assaulted the officers. Sources claim the altercation was sparked by a police raid on the home of a local Territorial Army man in Batpora, Kupwara, as part of an ongoing investigation. This action reportedly angered the local army unit, leading to the alleged attack on the police station.

However, a Srinagar-based defence spokesman stated he was unaware of the incident and would comment after gathering more information.

Later, an army official was quoted by the news agency Kashmir Scroll as having said that the reports of a physical altercation and assault were baseless and incorrect. He described the event as a minor disagreement between a police officer and a Territorial Army unit over an operational matter, which has since been resolved amicably through dialogue.

Both police and army officials have refrained from commenting on the specifics of the altercation, maintaining a unified stance that the situation is under control and no significant conflict occurred.