Gujjar Leaders Protest as Tribunal Clears Brigadier in Poonch Deaths

Gujjar community leaders have voiced outrage over the Armed Forces Tribunal's decision to clear a Brigadier's record in relation to custodial deaths in Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir. The tribunal's ruling has intensified tensions surrounding a contentious military operation conducted in the region.

The dispute originated from a December 21, 2023 incident in the Dera Ki Gali area of Poonch district, where an ambush resulted in the deaths of four soldiers, two of whom were mutilated in the attack. The subsequent military operation conducted in response to the ambush has become the focal point of ongoing controversy.

Community representatives have called the tribunal's decision into question, arguing that it fails to adequately address their concerns regarding the conduct of operations and the deaths that occurred. The case highlights the persistent tensions between military operations in the region and civilian and community grievances.

The tribunal's exoneration of the senior officer has reignited discussions about accountability and oversight in military operations within Kashmir, an area that has long witnessed complex security challenges and contested interpretations of operational conduct.