Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday asked why the Jammu and Kashmir administration had decided to not hold a search within the case of former policeman Davinder Singh, who was arrested in January last year for involvement in terror activities and espionage before his dismissal in May this year. She alleged the choice betrayed the administration’s double standards. However, a Bharatiya Janata party leader and a J&K government official said her concerns were misplaced.
Mufti was pertaining to a May 20 order by J&K elected official Manoj Sinha dismissing suspended policeman Davinder Singh which also said there was no got to hold an inquiry in his case before the dismissal because it wasn’t “expedient” within the interest of national security. The order cited clause 2, Article 311 of the Constitution, which allows the govt to withdraw presidential pleasure without holding an inquiry and is contestable only during a supreme court .
Mufti questioned the choice and accused the govt of handling Kashmiri youths differently.
“Innocent Kashmiris arrested under anti terror laws rot in jails for years. For them the trial becomes the punishment. But GOI (Government of India) doesn’t want a search against a cop caught red handed with militants. Is it because he colluded with the system to orchestrate certain dodgy incidents?,” Mehbooba Mufti asked during a tweet.
In another tweet, she said, “Kashmiris are considered guilty until proven innocent. Whether for state job[s] or maybe a passport they’re subjected to the worst quite scrutiny. But when a policeman is understood to possess facilitated militants, he’s excuse the hook. The double standards & dirty games is (sic) obvious,”.
Davinder Singh was intercepted and arrested under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act by security forces on the thanks to Jammu along side two Hizbul Mujahideen commanders, Naveed Babu and Rafi Ahmed Rather, consistent with the safety establishment. a 3rd man arrested with them was Irfan Shafi Mir, a lawyer. The Jammu and Kashmir administration had earlier stripped him of the Sher-e-Kashmir Police Medal for Gallantry.
His case was investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) who last year filed an in depth chargesheet against Singh et al. during a Jammu court explaining how the officer was in constant touch together with his handlers within the Pakistan High Commission , who had asked him to infiltrate the ministry of external affairs for espionage. The NIA chargesheet filed in July saw 3,064-pages and accused the officer of “waging war against India” and detailed his support to banned terror group Hizbul Mujahideen.
Responding to Mufti’s allegation, a senior government officer said on condition of anonymity that NIA had investigated Singh and there was nothing hidden about his role. “All those involved during this case are arrested,” he said.
“The case against Davinder Singh and therefore the terrorists arrested with him has already been thoroughly investigated. So, nothing has been concealed during this case by various security agencies,” he elaborated.
BJP state spokesman Altaf Thakur too dismissed Mufti’s claim and said anyone involved or affiliated with terror activities has faced action. “The case of Davinder Singh is already being investigated by the NIA so everything about the case will begin .” He added that the BJP had a transparent policy to not spare anyone involved in terrorism.
