A soldier was reportedly assaulted in the southern district of Kerala on Sunday night by a group of six individuals, who subsequently painted 'PFI' on his back with green paint, according to police sources cited by news agency PTI on Monday (September 25). The incident is said to have transpired near the soldier's residence in Kadakkal, Kerala, as he was returning home on his motorcycle.
The police have disclosed that personnel from the Military Intelligence have arrived at the scene and will oversee the investigation into the alleged attack on the soldier, who serves in the Indian Army's Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) Corps.
The purported incident occurred on the soldier's last day of vacation, as he hails from Kerala.
An FIR has been filed during the day against six identifiable individuals under sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 341 (wrongful restraint) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as confirmed by the police, the report said.
At present, it remains unclear if any particular organization or group was involved in the alleged assault, according to the police.
According to the soldier's complaint, as reported by an officer from the Kadakkal police station, he noticed a group of individuals near his residence while returning on his motorcycle. Upon inquiry, they informed him that someone was inebriated and lying in a nearby rubber plantation, questioning if he knew the individual in question, as per PTI report.
The officer recounted, "He said that he accompanied the men to the rubber plantation, and upon reaching there, someone kicked him from behind. The assailants proceeded to tie his hands and assault him. Subsequently, they inscribed 'PFI' on his back using green paint."
It is important to note that 'PFI' typically refers to the Popular Front of India, an organisation that was banned by the central government last year.
Police reports indicate that the soldier sustained no physical injuries during the attack. As of now, the soldier, who had been scheduled to return to his unit in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan today, is currently recuperating at home after being discharged from the hospital.