Indian Army Orders Investigation into Allegations of Killing 3 Civilians During Detention

A military official in India stated on Monday that "the army has opened an investigation into the killing of three civilians reportedly held by the army in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir, along with senior officers being transferred from the disputed area." Residents in the region, which both India and Pakistan claim sovereignty over, mentioned that the civilians were detained for questioning after militants ambushed Indian army vehicles on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of four soldiers. The official, who requested anonymity as they are not authorized to speak to the media, revealed that "the order for the investigation was issued following the deaths of the civilians." The ambush occurred in the forests of the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir and marks the fifth major attack on Indian forces in recent months, with 24 security personnel killed in the region. India controls part of the Muslim-majority Kashmir, while the other part is under Pakistani control. The region has been experiencing clashes between militants and Indian security forces since the 1990s.