Rajouri: A video of a heated exchange between Indian Army personnel and a civilian, later identified as Dr. Liaqat Ali—an Assistant Professor of Urdu at IGNOU—has gone viral on social media, sparking public debate.
The incident occurred during heightened security checks in the sensitive border district of Rajouri, which has witnessed increased militant activity in recent weeks.
The Indian Army, which is conducting intensified counter-terror operations in the region following credible inputs regarding terrorist movements, has confirmed the incident and initiated an internal enquiry.
The Army emphasized that the incident occurred during a vehicle search operation in an area considered vulnerable to infiltration and ambushes.
Rajouri district has seen a surge in militancy-related incidents in recent months, prompting the Indian Army to maintain strict vigilance and conduct routine search operations, especially in areas flagged as high-risk.
According to preliminary information from Army sources, the civilian in the video was stopped at a checkpoint. It is alleged that he behaved in a confrontational manner and even attempted to snatch a weapon from a soldier—actions which naturally escalated the situation.
“An incident has come to light wherein certain individuals were allegedly manhandled by Army personnel in Rajouri District. The Army had input on likely movement of terrorists in a vehicle in this sensitive area. Accordingly, search operations were being conducted. Preliminary information suggests that on being stopped, the individual tried to snatch a weapon of the soldiers on duty and initiated a scuffle with them.”
“However, an enquiry has been initiated. Should any personnel be found guilty of misconduct, strict action will be taken in accordance with the existing law. The Indian Army remains steadfast in upholding the highest standards of professionalism and discipline in the conduct of counter-terror operations. All sections of society are requested to continue to cooperate and collaborate with the Indian Army for collective and comprehensive security in this sensitive area.”
In the video, Dr. Liaqat Ali claims he was assaulted despite identifying himself and showing his ID.
However, Army sources underline that the situation could have been defused if full cooperation was extended by the civilian during the ongoing high-alert operation.
Military experts and defense analysts have pointed out that such incidents must be viewed in the context of the immense pressure and risks faced by the soldiers deployed in insurgency-prone areas. Rapid decisions during search ops are often a matter of life and death.
