Gujjar youth from Kathua was detained over false charges and forced into confession, says Mehbooba Mufti; Another man was shot dead by the Army in Baramulla after allegedly speeding away from a checkpoint
JAMMU/SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government finally broke its silence after a huge uproar and protests in public and on social media over the deaths of two persons, one in Kathua of Gujjar tribal youth allegedly by suicide and the other in Sopore of a truck driver by alleged shooting by the Army personnel during the past two days and assured to hold inquiries in both the cases today.
Amid allegations of custodial torture, the district administration and police in Kathua district ordered separate inquiries into the death of Makhan Din, a 25-year-old Gujjar youth from Billawar area, who allegedly committed suicide after alleged custodial torture.
Magisteral, Police Inquiries ordered
On Wednesday, Kathua District Magistrate Dr Rakesh Minhas ordered a magisterial enquiry, appointing Anil Kumar, tehsildar of Lohai Malhar, to investigate the cause of Din's death. The order mandates a detailed report within five days, including statements from relevant persons.
Simultaneously, the Jammu and Kashmir police initiated a departmental enquiry to be conducted by Shiv Kumar Sharma, DIG of Jammu-Samba-Kathua Range.
Police claim Din was questioned about alleged militant connections and was the nephew of a Pakistan-based militant, Swar Din alias Swaru Gujjar. They deny custodial torture, stating he was questioned and then got exposed. The police statement read, he was released and subsequently committed suicide by consuming insecticide.
The family, however, maintains he’s innocent and that he was allegedly brutally tortured during his detention.
According to the Indian Express, the Bani MLA, Dr Rameshwar Singh, claimed Din was picked up with his 65-year-old father and tortured overnight. According to the MLA, Din reportedly made a video before his suicide describing the torture and forced confession.
Uproar on Social Media
The inquiries into the case were necessitated following an uproar on the social media. The issue was first highlighted by a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti criticized the incident, alleging Din was detained on false charges, subjected to brutal torture, and forced into a confession. She urged the Director General of Police to initiate an immediate investigation.
She wrote on X: “Shocking news from Kathua: Makhan Din, aged 25 from Perody, Billawar, was detained by the SHO of Billawar on false charges of being an Over Ground Worker (OGW). He was reportedly subjected to brutal thrashing and torture, forced into a confession, and tragically found dead today. The area has been sealed off, and internet services have been cut, leading to widespread panic. There’s an ongoing crackdown, with more individuals being picked up.”
“This incident appears to follow a troubling pattern of targeting innocent youths on fabricated charges. I urge the DGP, J&K Police, to initiate an immediate investigation,” she wrote.
The area has been sealed, and internet services suspended, leading to local panic about the ongoing situation.
Pattern of Custodial Violence
The incident follows a pattern of alleged custodial violence.
For instance, in a similar case from July 2023, Mukhtar Hussain Shah died by suicide after claiming torture during army questioning. After being rounded up with 59 other men following a militant attack, Shah alleged severe physical abuse during interrogation. He released a video describing his treatment before taking his own life, sparking widespread protests in the region.
In April 2023, after a militant attack, the Rashtriya Rifles rounded up 60 men for questioning, and brutally tortured. Three of them were allegedly killed in custody.
In a detailed investigation published earlier this month, The Caravan revealed a harrowing account of systematic military violence against civilians in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, exposing a deeply troubling pattern of human rights violations by the Indian Army.
The incident originated from a militant attack on December 21, 2023, where four soldiers were killed, two beheaded. In response, Operation Pangai was launched, resulting in the detention and torture of 26 civilians across five villages: Topa Peer, Hasploot, Panghai, Sawani Mahra, and Sangliani.
‘Torture coordinated, large-scale operation’
The operation was led by senior military officers, including Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain and Major General Maneesh Gupta. According to The Caravan, the torture was not a spontaneous act of rage, but a "coordinated, directed, large-scale operation" targeting predominantly Gujjar community members.
Torture methods were brutally systematic. Victims were beaten with wooden rods, metal pipes, and spice pestles. They were subjected to electrocution, drowning, and humiliation, including having chili powder applied to their bodies. Three men—Safeer, Shaukat, and Shabeer—were killed during these interrogations.
The military's internal investigation, a court of inquiry ordered by Jain, revealed a troubling approach to accountability. Torture was euphemistically described as "methodology of questioning," and victims were merely "found dead in the area of responsibility."
Brigadier Padmasambhava Acharya was censured and is unlikely to receive his next promotion, but senior Army Generals Gupta and Jain appear to have faced no significant consequences, the Caravan report pointed out.
No action against senior Army officers
The Caravan report points out several flaws in the police investigation. The First Information Report (FIR) charges only an "unknown person-1" with murder, omitting crucial charges like kidnapping, illegal confinement, and torture. Notably, no charges were filed under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, despite nearly all victims being from the Gujjar community.
Most disturbingly, the investigation suggests this is not an isolated incident. The Rashtriya Rifles, deployed in the region since 2013, has been notorious for its brutality. As The Caravan quotes a former RR officer, the unit was internally referred to as "Ravan Raj" for its violent tactics.
The report concludes with a damning observation: the two generals who oversaw the torture of 26 civilians and the murder of three have essentially gone unpunished. Gupta remains the GOC of CIF Romeo, while Jain now trains future army officers at the Indian Military Academy — a grim example for a new generation of military leadership.
The Caravan challenges take down order
The Caravan's investigation stands as a critical exposé of systemic violence, highlighting the urgent need for accountability and reform in military operations in conflict zones.
An earlier detailed report on the investigation by the Caravan last year, within days of which the union ministry of information and broadcasting ordered The Caravan to take down the article, claiming that it wrongfully “portrayed the alleged actions of the security forces as a pre-planned operation.” The order is being challenged by The Caravan in court.
First time reaction of Omar Abdullah
This is the first time after taking over as chief minister of the Union Territory that Omar Abdullah has reacted and assured an inquiry.
Earlier, on November 20, allegations of arbitrary detention of four people and torture in custody rocked Chenab Valley’s Kishtwar, his government maintained a cryptic silence. The victims - Sajad Hussain, Mehraj Din, Ghulam Hassan, Mushtaq Ahmad, and Abdul Kabir - were all under 30 years old.
According to a report in The Hindu, a local sarpanch said that 10 to 12 locals are routinely picked up, detained, and interrogated, especially after militants killed two Village Defence Guards on November 9. Despite assurances from Army officials that detentions would stop, the sarpanch claimed that 12 youths, including one over 65 years old, were summoned to an Army installation.
An Army spokesman had then said that an investigation is being launched to "ascertain the facts" following the operation in the Kishtwar Sector, which was based on intelligence about terrorist movement.
The outcome of the investigation is still not known.
Omar highlights human rights violations
Finally breaking his silence, after the February 5, 2025, incident, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah addressed two controversial incidents involving state security forces, condemning the use of excessive force and potential human rights violations.
In a detailed statement on X, Abdullah highlighted the killing of truck driver Waseem Ahmed Malla by Army personnel in Baramulla and the suicide of 26-year-old Makhan Din from Kathua, who allegedly experienced torture in police custody.
"I have seen the reports of excessive use of force & harassment of Makhan Din in police custody in Billawar leading to his suicide and the death of Waseem Ahmed Malla, shot by the army under circumstances that are not entirely clear. Both these incidents are highly unfortunate and should not have happened," Abdullah posted on X.
Omar takes up issues with Centre
The chief minister emphasized the critical importance of local population cooperation in combating terrorism, warning that such incidents risk alienating the very communities necessary for achieving regional stability. He explicitly stated that Jammu and Kashmir cannot be completely normalized or freed from terror without genuine partnership with local residents.
In response to these incidents, Abdullah has taken formal steps to address the concerns. He personally raised the matter with the Union Government, insisting on time-bound and transparent investigations. Additionally, the J&K government will conduct independent inquiries into both cases.
Regarding the truck driver's death, the Army claimed soldiers fired after the driver failed to stop despite repeated warnings.
(This news article has been updated with more information)
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