Indian officials in Pakistan were handcuffed, beaten with rods: Report

The two officials of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, who were arrested and kept in detention for almost 12 hours, were allegedly handcuffed and beaten with iron rods during interrogation by Pakistani officials, said a report by Hindustan Times quoting sources privy to the matter.

The Pakistani media on Monday (June 15) had claimed that the officials were arrested for their alleged involvement in a “hit and run accident”.

Quoting sources, the HT report said that the duo, named Silvades Paul and Dawamu Brahamu, was picked up from a petrol pump close to the high commission office at around 8.30 pm on Monday by a group of 15-16 armed men. They were then blindfolded, handcuffed and taken to an unknown location, 10 minutes away.

There they were interrogated about the role of high commission officials and repeatedly beaten up with rods and wooden sticks, the report said.

Related news: Pakistan authorities release two Indian High Commission staffers

The sources told HT that the abductors made multiple videos of the detained officials and forced them to accept that they committed the accident.

The two officials were handed over to the high commission by Pakistani authorities on Monday night after pressure from the Indian government.

The development comes amid a strained relation between India and Pakistan. Even though the past few days have witnessed infiltration by militants from the Pakistan side of the border along Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan on Tuesday (June 16) violated ceasefire along the Line of Control in Kupwara district, resorting to unprovoked firing at Indian positions.