Four civilians have been hospitalised in an army hospital in Kishtwar district of Jammu after they were allegedly tortured by soldiers in connection with a recent gunfight that resulted in one soldier's death and injuries to three others.

The families said the four were detained on Wednesday at the Chas camp in Mughal Maidan of Kishtwar. When they did not return in the evening, the villagers thronged the camp seeking their release.

"They handed the four to us in a badly injured condition. They were all tortured. Seeing their condition, we tried to take them to Kishtwar hospital for treatment but we were stopped at Bhandarkoot by armymen who urged us to admit all the injured to their hospital instead,” a resident, whose son is among the injured, told The Telegraph over the phone.

Another relative, who accompanies the injured at the Bhandarkoot camp, said they were receiving good treatment from the army doctors.

The four victims were identified as Sajad Ahmad, Mushtaq Ahmad, Abdul Kabir and Mehraj-ud-din.

The army said an operation was launched in Kishtwar on November 20 following specific intelligence of the movement of militants.

"There are some reports on the alleged ill-treatment of civilians during the conduct of the operation. An investigation is being launched to ascertain the facts. Necessary follow-up action will be ensured," the army said.