Police and GBSA activists present conflicting accounts
SUMIT SHARMA
Jammu: An alleged incident of police misconduct in Bishnah area in district Jammu sparked outrage on Monday, leading to a protest demonstration by the Gujjar Bakerwal Students Alliance (GBSA) outside the main gate of Jammu University.
The matter has brought two sharply differing versions to the forefront — one from the protesting activists and the other from the J&K Police, who maintain that the officers were attacked while enforcing a court order.
The matter gained momentum when GBSA activists assembled and staged a demonstration against what they termed “police brutality” on a Gujjar nomadic family. The protest was led by the organisation’s General Secretary, Amir Choudhary.
Speaking to media persons, Choudhary claimed that a video circulating on social media shows a police Sub-Inspector, identified as PSI Zahid, misbehaving with members of a Gujjar family, including women.
He alleged that the police officer “appeared intoxicated” and that no lady police personnel were present during the action. He further stated that the incident was not related to any anti-social or criminal activity, “but targeted an innocent nomadic family,” adding that there were “deliberate attempts to target the Gujjar community.”
The protesting activists demanded strict action from senior police authorities against the concerned officer to prevent recurrence of such episodes.
However, the police have put forward a starkly different version of the events leading to the confrontation.
According to police sources, the episode stemmed from a written complaint by Rakesh Kumar, son of Sewa Ram, resident of Bamnal Kothey, alleging that one Mohd. Sharief, son of Mir Baksh, had started constructing a kullah despite a prohibitory order by the Hon’ble Court restraining any further construction.
Following the complaint, a police team visited the location. On objecting to the construction and advising the accused to contact the Tehsildar Bishnah for clarification, the police party was allegedly confronted aggressively.
As per police, Sharief and his associates began abusing and threatening the police personnel and levelled false allegations of bribery. The confrontation then reportedly turned physical, leading to injuries to PSI Mohd. Zahid, Sgct. Ajay Kumar and Ct. Mangat Ram.
Police maintain that they retaliated only in self-defence to protect themselves from the mob.
In the aftermath, a case has been registered at Police Station Bishnah under FIR No. 134/2025 for offences under Sections 132/126(2)/351(2)/352/191(2) of the law against Mohd. Sharief and his associates. Senior officers are monitoring the developments and further investigation is in progress.
The incident — which began as an enforcement action, followed by an alleged assault on police personnel, and later transformed into a human rights protest — has now ignited wider public interest, particularly within the Gujjar Bakerwal community.
With drastically opposing narratives now in circulation, the matter is likely to draw scrutiny from higher authorities, and demands for factual clarity are expected to intensify after official video footage, medical reports, and inquiry findings are examined.
