The Army has transferred a brigadier and three officers following the deaths of three civilians in Thanamandi, in the Rajouri-Poonch area, after five soldiers lost their lives in a terrorist ambush on Thursday.
Army Chief General Manoj Pande is, reportedly, visiting Jammu to assess the security situation post the Dera Ki Gali encounter.
The attack was carried out by a group of terrorists at Dera Ki Gali on two Army vehicles at a vulnerable spot.
Several civilians were rounded up for questioning by the security forces after the attack. Later, the bodies of three civilians were found at the encounter site with torture marks. Ten other civilians are being treated in hospitals.
The incident has sparked tension in Rajouri-Poonch, with locals and relatives alleging that the three civilians were innocent and died due to torture in custody.
The three civilians were buried amid restrictions imposed by the administration to prevent any law and order situation. Mobile phone services remain suspended in the area due to the operation against the perpetrators of the attack.
Following the attack, senior officers from the Army, police, and NIA visited the spot. The NIA has taken over the investigations into the incident.
The killing of three civilians has triggered outrage across Jammu and Kashmir, with political parties calling for a probe into the allegations of custodial deaths of the deceased.
The Army has pledged cooperation in the probe.
Reports indicate that the Army has transferred a brigadier and three officers responsible for operations in Surankote to pacify the situation.
Disciplinary actions are under consideration pending internal investigations, with an FIR lodged by the police.
While the Army has not officially commented, officials confirmed the 10 injured civilians were stable, with five each admitted to Surankote and Poonch hospitals.
Allegations that the three civilians died in Army custody have prompted a thorough internal investigation as part of the Standard Operating Procedure.
Jammu and Kashmir police are also probing the deaths. The Army pledged full support for the investigation, and the civil administration has announced compensation and compassionate appointments for the deceased's next of kin.
Search operations are on to locate terrorists in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
The Army chief is expected to review the situation at Nagrota Corps Headquarters, with plans to intensify operations.
Defence Ministry officials are set to visit Rajouri and Poonch to assess the ground situation amid increased terror activities.
Massive search and cordon operations continue, with local assistance, in upper reaches, forests, and other vulnerable areas.
