Jammu/Srinagar, Nov 15: A political row has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir following the killing of two special police officers in Kishtwar, with the National Conference and the Congress slamming Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma for allegedly using derogatory terms like “nalayak” (useless) and “naehli” (incompetence) against police officers during a heated exchange with security officers.
National Conference (NC) spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said the language used by the senior BJP leader while berating an IPS officer, and subsequently posting a video of the incident on social media, demeaned the entire J&K Police force.
“I can accept the frustration shown by them, but the anger should have been directed at persons handling law and order in Jammu and Kashmir – the home minister and the lieutenant governor,” Dar said.
The situation indicated that neither had the security scenario improved, nor had stripping the elected government of powers over security helped, he added.
While condemning the killings of the SPOs unequivocally, Dar urged not to politicise the tragedy.
SPOs Babi Chand (57) and Rashpal Kumar (45), both residents of Kishtwar district in Jammu division, were found dead in the Dachhan forest area early Thursday, a day after they went missing while on their way to a security post at Basnand in the adjoining Marwah tehsil.
Echoing similar sentiments, J&K Congress chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma termed the killings unfortunate and demanded a thorough probe, while criticising BJP leaders for publicly questioning the police and security forces.
He said such remarks send a wrong message to the public, noting that security forces have made numerous sacrifices to curb militancy in the region.
Questioning the circumstances under which the two SPOs were sent on operational duty to a difficult and isolated area, the Congress leader pointed toward potential security lapses.
“The home ministry and the lieutenant governor-led administration are directly responsible for security. If BJP leaders are raising questions, they are directing them to the home ministry and the L-G,” the Congress leader said, questioning the government’s claims of normalcy given that terror incidents in Kulgam and Kishtwar occurred within hours of each other.
The controversy stems from a viral video showing Sunil Sharma and Kishtwar MLA Shagun Parihar confronting senior police officers, including IGP Tejinder Singh and DIG (Doda-Kishtawar-Ramban range) Sargun Shukla, following the death of the two SPOs.
Sunil Sharma questioned the operational strategy of sending two local SPOs armed with a .303 rifle and an INSAS rifle up a hill to assist the Army without proper institutional backing.
“What kind of operational strategy is this? I have never seen such ‘nalayaki’. I have never seen such ‘naehli’ officers,” Sharma said, alleging that youth from the isolated village were being selectively targeted and killed.
Demanding an inquiry into who assigned the duties without official orders, the LoP called for the immediate re-installation of a special operations group (SOG) picket, deployment of 40 personnel, installation of a VHF communication tower, and completion of pending road projects in the hypersensitive area.
He also alleged that certain officers were working with over-ground workers (OGWs) as guides and demanded strict action.
Kishtwar MLA Parihar expressed anguish over the delay in senior officials visiting the bereaved families, alleging that the bodies of the slain SPOs were disrespected and transported in dumpers.
“Today you are concerned about the crease of their uniform, you are concerned about their back, but no one is concerned about who will look after their children from now on,” Parihar told the officers, alleging that senior officials arrived only after the intervention of the lieutenant governor and ‘Delhi’.–(PTI)
