SRINAGAR, April 19: Indian forces have arrested three of their troops on suspicion of raping a teenage girl in occupied Kashmir, a spokesman for India’s Border Security Force (BSF) said on Friday.

“Three BSF personnel have been identified. They have been put under arrest and the judicial process is on,” the spokesman said. “Proper action will be taken against the culprits.”

Kashmiri newspapers on Friday reported allegations that an 18-year-old girl was raped on Thursday by four members of the BSF at her house in the Pahalgam area.

The Pahalgam valley is 100kms southeast of Srinagar.

JKLF CHIEF DETAINED: Police detained Javid Mir, acting chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, when he tried to lead a demonstration in Srinagar to protest rights abuses by Indian forces, police and witnesses said. They said Mir was arrested along with half a dozen supporters near UN offices in the city. The protesters were holding placards that read: “Stop custodial killings, uphold human rights.”

Elsewhere in the held state, police said on Friday they had arrested two pro-India guerillas involved in the killing this week of five Muslim villagers.

Residents of the village accused the army and pro-India guerillas of the killings, but the army denied the accusation.

At least two pro-Delhi groups are helping Indian forces fight the Mujahideen.—Reuters

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...