Poonch Attack
Indian Army thanks Jammu Kashmir residents for support amid suicide row following Poonch attack
Srinagar: The army has expressed disbelief over the alleged involvement of some locals from Poonch in aiding terrorists during a recent attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a defence spokesperson, the people in the region have always been fighting "shoulder to shoulder with the army irrespective of their caste and religion".
The army made the statement a day after a video surfaced where Mukhtar Hussain Shah alleged police harassment and torture during his questioning in connection with a terrorist attack in Poonch last week. The video showed Shah appealing to people to support the army before he died by suicide.
"In the recent attack on an army truck, a few names of some in the community have come to the fore, which is unbelievable. Hence, people of this area should keep away from such type of activities in future," the spokesman said.
According to the police, six people have been arrested for allegedly aiding terrorists, and over 200 people have been detained in connection with the attack in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir.
Five soldiers were killed in the attack carried out by terrorists believed to be from Pakistan who also stole weapons from the soldiers.
Mukhtar Hussain Shah, who was one of the locals summoned by the police for questioning allegedly died by suicide in a hospital.
Prior to his death, Shah recorded a 10-minute video expressing his distress at being treated as a terrorist sympathizer. He said that his family had always supported India.
"It's the same family which is being harassed and tortured," he said in the video.
He had urged the locals to support the army in the fight against terrorism. His death has sparked protests in the area.
The army released a statement acknowledging the support of the people of Poonch during historic battles fought in 1948, 1962, 1961, and 1999.
"Whenever anyone tried to spread unrest in this area, people have fought shoulder to shoulder with the Indian Army," the statement said.
The spokesman said Pakistan is against an atmosphere of peace in Jammu and Kashmir, and after the revocation of Article 370 under the Constitution, "Pakistan doesn't want peace and government formation in Jammu and Kashmir".
The army said, "After a recent attack by the PAFF (Peoples Anti-Fascist Force) in which five soldiers laid down their lives, all communities in Poonch like Gujjars, Baketwal, Muslims and Hindus showed their anger on the incident and protested against it."
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