Srinagar: A viral video showing a police officer kicking a woman protester in Kulgam has triggered widespread outrage in Kashmir, with political leaders condemning the act and legislators raising the issue in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
The J&K Police have acknowledged the incident and launched an inquiry.
The protest erupted after two missing men from Devsar, Kulgam, were found dead in recent days. Three men had gone missing last month, and while two bodies were recovered from the Vaishaw stream on Thursday and Sunday, the third individual remains unaccounted for. The families of the deceased have alleged foul play and demanded an investigation.
On Sunday, mourners gathered to protest, calling for a probe into the mysterious deaths. During the demonstration, a police officer was caught on camera kicking a woman protester, sparking outrage across the region.
The video was widely shared on social media, drawing sharp criticism from political figures. PDP leader Iltija Mufti condemned the act, calling it “shocking and unbecoming,” and urged the police to take immediate action. She also claimed that authorities prevented her from visiting Kulgam, alleging that the gates of her house were locked without prior notice.
Peoples Conference president Sajad Lone described the officer’s action as “utterly disdainful,” asserting that such incidents occur frequently but often go undocumented. National Conference MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi also criticized the incident, calling it a “deeply disturbing human rights violation” and denouncing the treatment of grieving families.
The matter was brought up in the J&K Assembly on Monday, with lawmakers across party lines raising concerns over police conduct and calling for accountability. Meanwhile, the J&K Police have stated that they are looking into the incident.
