Army tribunal upholds censure for brigadier over 2023 Poonch civilian deaths

The Armed Forces Tribunal on Thursday upheld an administrative censure for a brigadier who was commanding a sector of the Rashtriya Rifles in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district in December 2023 when three civilians died during an interrogation following a militant attack.

The Chandigarh bench of the tribunal rejected retired Brigadier P Acharya’s challenge to the “severe displeasure” award by the Indian Army against him.

The case relates to an incident in 2023. On December 22 that year, a day after a militant attack in Poonch killed four soldiers, Army personnel picked up nine residents of Topa Peer village. Three of the detained civilians – 45-year-old Safeer Ahmad, 26-year-old Mohammad Showkat and 30-year-old Shabir Ahmad – died due to alleged torture in Army custody.

The incident took place in the area of responsibility of 48 Rashtriya Rifles, a battalion operating in a sector commanded by Acharya at the time.

On Thursday, the tribunal found that the officiating commanding officer of 48 Rashtriya Rifles battalion involved in the incident had directed a company commander to use “slightly harsh” methods while interrogating suspects.

The order also noted that Acharya had himself displayed anger, assaulted a suspect and had been unable to ensure that the officers under his supervision showed restraint while interrogating civilians.

The tribunal said that “in the conflict...

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