Tensions escalated in Bahawalnagar, Punjab, Pakistan, as Pakistan army troops attacked a police station following a dispute over the recovery of an allegedly illegal weapon from a soldier’s family member. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, was captured in several videos that went viral on social media, showing men in army uniform beating up policemen, resulting in injuries and visible marks of torture.

Escalation of Dispute

The conflict began when several police officers raided the family home of an army SSG (Special Service Group) commando named Khalil on April 8. However, the officers were reportedly taken captive by the soldier and his relatives instead. In response, a larger police force was deployed to rescue the captured cops, leading to the arrest of Khalil, his father Anwar Jat, his brothers, and other family members for attacking the police party. Reports suggest that the soldier and his relatives were subjected to torture while in custody and were not presented before a magistrate for police remand.

Military Intervention
Following the arrest and alleged torture of the soldier and his family, military authorities intervened and registered an FIR against several police officers for keeping them in “illegal” custody. The situation escalated further when soldiers arrived in multiple vehicles at the police station where the soldier and his family were detained. They forcibly entered the station and assaulted policemen with rifle butts and sticks, leaving the station in-charge and his staff injured.

Intervention and Resolution
Deputy Commissioner Zulfikar Ahmed Bhoon, District Police Chief Naseebullah Khan, and army officers intervened to bring the situation under control. However, the soldiers’ aggressive conduct at the police station had already been recorded and shared on social media, sparking outrage among journalists, politicians, and rights activists. PTI leader Hammad Azhar criticized the Punjab police chief and accused the provincial government of trivializing the matter.

Official Response
In response to the videos circulating on social media, the police issued a statement clarifying that the incident was being misrepresented as a conflict between the Pakistan army and Punjab police. The statement emphasized that both institutions launched a joint investigation, and after reviewing the facts, the matter was peacefully resolved.The incident highlights the delicate nature of the relationship between the military and police in Pakistan, raising concerns about the misuse of power and the need for accountability and transparency in such matters.

(With inputs from TOI)