Gujjar-Bakarwal tribal men allege assault by Army officer in Srinagar’s Daghwan region

A group of nomadic men from the Gujjar and Bakarwal community were allegedly beaten by an Army officer last week in the Daghwan mountains, located on the outskirts of Srinagar.

The Army has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.

The matter was first highlighted on social media by National Conference MLA from Budhal (Rajouri district) Choudhary Javed Iqbal, who alleged that a group of men were assaulted by Army personnel on Saturday.

“These nomadic tribals migrate to the area and stay in Dhoks every year. They were called by the Army and 3-4 people were beaten. When I learned of the incident, I contacted the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir,” Iqbal told The Tribune on Monday.

Iqbal also posted on X, urging Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha “to rein in such excesses”. “Stop this provocation. Protect tribal lives,” he wrote.

The men who were allegedly beaten have been identified as Showkat Ahmad, Liyaqat Ali, Ghulam Qadir, and Mohammed Azam, according to Ishtiyaq Ahmad, a relative of the victims who is currently grazing livestock in the Daghwan area.

“There is no reason why they were beaten. This is a newly set-up Army camp in the region,” he said, adding that the Army had also instructed them to vacate the area.

On Sunday evening, the victims were reportedly called to Harwan Police Station, where they met the local SP, who, according to Ahmad, assured them that they could stay in the area for another three months.

Located in the higher reaches, Daghwan is traditionally inhabited during summer months by a large population of Gujjar and Bakarwal families as part of their seasonal migration with livestock.

Mian Mehar Ali, National Conference MLA from Kangan in Central Kashmir, called the incident “unfortunate” and avoidable.

“Yes, they were beaten by the Army. I have also taken up the issue with concerned officials, and I was assured that the matter will be looked into,” he told The Tribune.

When contacted, Srinagar-based Defence PRO Lt Col Manoj Sahu said he had no information about the incident but assured he would “find out the details.”

SSP Srinagar, Sundeep Chakravarthy, could not be reached for comment on the matter.

J & K