Jammu, 18 August 2025:
J&K BJP VDG Cell Convenor, Basant Raj Thakur, has strongly condemned the shocking and unlawful incident in which certain police officials grossly misused their authority, misrepresented their uniform, and acted in blatant violation of the law.
Narrating the sequence of events, Thakur stated that on the intervening night of 14th August 2025, some suspicious persons were noticed inside the premises of Primary School, Pernote, situated in Tehsil Thathri, District Doda. A vigilant member of the Village Defence Group (VDG), Balbir Singh Manhas, resident of Pernote, along with his neighbors, immediately took note of the incident. In line with his responsibility towards ensuring the safety and security of his village, Balbir Singh repeatedly questioned the intruders, demanding that they identify themselves. However, no response was forthcoming.
Realizing the potential danger, Balbir Singh attempted to alert other VDG members. Left with no option and in order to deter the suspicious elements from causing harm to his village, he was compelled to fire a warning shot in the air. This act was purely preventive in nature, aimed at safeguarding the lives and property of innocent villagers.
Shockingly, on the very next morning i.e., 15th August 2025, officials from Police Post Premnagar unlawfully detained Balbir Singh. What followed was a shameful episode of custodial excess, where he was subjected to brutal third-degree torture at the hands of the DySP Thathri (Probationer) and one police official from Premnagar. As a result, Balbir Singh sustained severe injuries, his body bearing marks of inhumane assault, and had to be hospitalized for medical treatment.
Expressing his anguish, Basant Raj Thakur demanded that the Senior Superintendent of Police, Doda, immediately take cognizance of the matter and book the guilty officers under relevant provisions of law. He further appealed to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, Sh. Manoj Sinha Ji, to personally intervene in the case and ensure strict and exemplary action against those responsible, so that the dignity of law and the security role of VDG members is safeguarded in future.
