Protests in Poonch area after three persons died due to alleged Army 'torture'

SRINAGAR: Bufliaz area and its neighhoodhood in Jammu and Kashmir 's Poonch district witnessed massive protests by residents on Friday night after the death of three persons allegedly due to 'torture' in the Army custody.

The locals claimed that the deceased Wazir Hussein, 37, Muhammad Showkat, ,26, and Shabir Ahmed, 32, were among eight residents detained by the Army for interrogation in connection with Thursday's terror attack at neighbouring Dera ki Gali area in which four Army soldiers were killed and three others injured.

They alleged that they were tortured in the Army's custody and when taken to the hospital they were declared dead on arrival.

Senior police and civil administration officials including Poonch's DC Choudhary Muhammad Yasin have rushed to the area.

Police said initial reports suggested three men were found dead under suspicious circumstances near the site of Thursday 's deadly attack and that it is investigating the cause of their death and the allegation by the locals that they had been picked up by the Army earlier.