STATE TIME Exclusive

Listen how a Police officer from Jammu strikes deal for NDPS detainee’s bail with NRI family in USA

Highly connected Kashmir businessman acts as middleman; tells family how SHO would give ‘clean chit’ to the accused against payment

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz/ Vivek Sharma

JAMMU, May 15: This may not have happened for the first time. This may not be for the last time either. But it does arguably for the first time expose in media how a Police officer in Jammu roped in a Kashmir businessman to strike a deal with an NRI family of Baramulla, settled in Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States of America, for the release of their son who has been earlier this year framed in an offence under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS).

 Rajbeer Singh (24), alongwith his Baramulla neighbourer Sameer Ahmad Mir, is languishing behind the bars in Jammu’s District Jail of Amphalla as his relatives did not pay the Police an amount of “Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh” for his release which allegedly was fixed as the price of issuing a “clean chit”. SHO’s “favourable report” offered to the family would have facilitated Rajbeer’s release on bail and subsequently his reunion with his brother and parents in USA.

Rajbeer and Sameer, alongwith “friend” Joginder of Jammu, were seized with Rajbeer’s car on return from New Delhi to Jammu at Kunjwani Chowk late on March 5, 2016. Joginder was immediately released along with the AC equipment he was carrying in the Rajbeer’s Wagon R, raising suspicions of his secretly working for Police. Rajbeer and Sameer were held in confinement at Police Post Narwal and their “arrest” was not officially disclosed for 48 hours.

Finally, when Rajbeer’s relatives did not pick up the offer of “clean chit” against cash payment to the Police and they began putting pressure from different quarters---an unknown journalist, a BJP leader and IGP’s classmate at school---late on March 7, 2016, SHO Bahu Fort filed case FIR No: 51/2016 under different sections of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act against Rajbeer and Sameer. The Police report did not make any mention of Joginder.

Incharge Police Post Narwal, Sub Inspector Mehmood Khan, who claimed to have arrested Rajbeer and Sameer with 65 bottles of “banned syrup” and 6500 “intoxicating capsules”, contacted businessman friend Haseeb Tramboo for striking a deal for Rajbeer’s release with his relatives.  Even after registration of FIR, Tramboo and Khan, at former’s office in Narwal area, continued their efforts to extort money from the NRI family.

Following is the transcript of the 19 minute long telephonic conversation between Haseeb Tramboo and Mehmood Khan (in Jammu) and Rajbeer’s brother Harjot Singh and his brother-in-law Summerpreet Singh Bali of Baramulla (in Cleveland, USA). This conversation, that took place late on March 7, 2016, puts halo on a Police-businessman-criminal nexus that seldom surfaces on newspapers and television channels in Jammu and Kashmir.

Haseeb Tramboo: Helo

Harjot Singh: Helo

HT: Haseeb speaking here

HS: Yes, Haseeb

HT: Here’s the officer of concerned Police Station. Talk to him

Mehmood Khan: Helo

HS: Helo

MK: Helo

HS: Helo

MK: Yes

HS: I am Harjot here. Rajbeer’s brother

MK: Yes, it’s OK. Please

HS: OK

MK: What’s Rajbeer to you?

HS: Rajbeer is my brother

MK: OK. Look, whatever had to happen, has happened in it. It was too much highlighted by your relatives here. And they delayed things too much. Now that registration (of FIR) has happened, it’s the matter of bail. You concentrate on the bail. Rest whatever help will be possible at out level, we’ll do

HS: Who are you Sir? I mean, are you from Narwal Police Station?

MK: Yes, yes…

HS: What’s your good name?

MK: (Silence). Don’t you know Haseeb Sahab?

HS: Yes, Haseeb is in our family relation

MK: I am in his family relation and he is in your family relation

HS: Yes, no problem. Please tell me what’s the way out in it. What can we do?

MK: Look, there was a way out but it was too much delayed by your relatives here (in Jammu). It would have been smoothly sorted out on day one. But they highlighted it too much. They are still doing it. Sometimes they rush to this man, sometimes they rush to that man. It’s creating a little problem for him (Rajbeer). I had told them in the very beginning that that the more you highlight it the more it will create a problem for you. You just talk to them how we have to deal with it. Whatever is possible at our level, we’ll do. I have explained all to Haseeb Sahab

HS: Look Sir, we are ready to do anything. If money has to be paid, we’ll do that

MK: No, there’s no issue of money etc. in it. We will see about the money later. Let there be help first [nahi iss mein paise waise ka issue nahi. Paisa tou baad ki baath hai. Pehle help tou hojaye]

HS: Because, I don’t want his life to spoil. It has become a very serious issue for all of us. His mother is in the hospital

MK: OK, you talk to Haseeb Sahab, rest there’s no issue. We’ll do whatever help is possible. Talk to Haseeb Sahab [phone handed over to Haseeb]

HT: Helo

HS: Yes Haseeb

HT: Look, I just brought him (Mehmood Khan) out of the Police Station to settle what has to be done and what has not to be done. But the problem is that they (Rajbeer’s relatives in Jammu) go to this man and they go to that man. Sometimes they go to SP South. The more they highlight it, the more it will become difficult. Please make them understand if they want help or not they shouldn’t highlight it. What’s the fun in going to the Press. Have we got to take cudgels with the Police? After all, it’s our man who has landed in the trouble

HS: You tell us what has to be the settlement. (Rajbeer’s) Pictures have come on WhatsApp

HT: You see for yourselves. It’s a simple matter, clear enough that giving a report is in his (Mehmood Khan’s) hand. In short cut, this man (Mehmood Khan) is saying that if I have to give the report in your favour, tell me accordingly. Rest I have told you what he will do. He will prepare a favourable report. We (Police) will not contest the bail. Absolutely, we will not oppose the bail

HS: It’s OK. You know Summer (Harjot’s brother-in-law in Cleveland Summerpreet Singh Bali of Baramulla and Haseeb’s classfellow at school)?

HT: Which Summer?

HS: Summer Bali, whose father you had spoken to. He is here. Talk to him (Harjot passes on phone to Summerpreet)

Summerpreet Singh: Haseeb Bhai Salam

HT: How are you Sir?

SS: Did you get me? I am Summerpreet speaking.

HT: Yes absolutely. How are you?

SS: Look Haseeb Bhai, they are my relatives. You know Pawan is married to me.

HT: Look, I got SHO (Mehmood Khan) out of Police Station two or three times. He was waiting and did not file FIR till 4.00 pm today. I had requested them not to delay the matter. Then there was a crime meeting between the officers and they decided to officially book him. Now (the matter of issuing a favourable) report is in SHO’s hand. SHO is ready to report in the finding that there’s no involvement of Rajbeer in it. But for that favour, we need to provide for him… I have made clear to SHO that we will do his job. He’s still ready for it. But your Mamaji here did a blunder. He went to a journalist who called the SHO and enquired about it. On the other side, SHO received a call from some BJP leader. When all this exposure happens, SHO becomes cautious. Then things proceed as per law. Finally, this matter is against us. I tried my best to make Mamaji understand. I told him this is the matter of give-and-take. Settle it with the SHO and end it here. [iss ke saath lain dain karo aur mamla khattam karo]

SS: We have gone mad with it. You know he is not bad. He does crazy things in friendship. His (Rajbeer’s) interview in America is now very close. Everybody in our family is traumatised, his father, sister…We are ready to do everything. We are ready to spend money. Just this boy should come out. Please ask the IO (Investigating Officer/SHO) what we have to do. This boy should come out……Haseeb Bhai… you can do it

HT: That’s what I am telling you. His trouble will be over when we will manage to get him out on bail.  You must make Mamaji understand. We will manage a favourable report from the SHO and file the bail petition. I told them my family firm’s counsel is the top criminal lawyer here. I told them I will bargain with the lawyer. In their presence, I spoke to him on phone in Delhi. I told him that we have to bail out a person. I told him we will manage a favourable report from Police. He said give me the details of the case. I explained to Mama ji and Vinay jo lain dain karna hai woh karo aur mamla khatam karo. They said we will come back in an hour but didn’t return. They didn’t even call.

SS: Is the bail possible in Police custody?

HT: No, not in Police custody. We will have to get the bail only from the court. It’s NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act) case. In such matters, bail application is moved in a court which simultaneously calls a report from the Police. When Police will report that we have investigated and prima facie found that he (Rajbeer) has no involvement and only the other person, or persons, are involved. This is his statement. Hence we don’t have any issue. This person is bailed out. When such a favourable report goes to the court, the judge is left with no option but to grant the bail.

SS: I will speak to Mamaji. They too want that he should come out.

HT: Exactly. But they are overtrying. I talked to SHO and did everything to make Rajbeer’s involvement zero…. He (SHO) is very much ready to give the positive report and clean chit. He is the SHO. He is the IO. Court has to go by his report.

SS: OK, tell me what have we to do. What’s its status? What can happen right now?

HT: Just the SHO has to give a positive report in Rajbeer’s favour. He is ready to give it tomorrow. Tomorrow. Thereafter, you or me have to arrange a lawyer. I told you I have talked to a top criminal lawyer. I stand guarantee that 99% he will get the bail.

SS: Do you mean we will get the report and thereafter file the bail application?

HT: No we will first file the bail application in the court. Court will officially seek the report from Police. That report will be already prepared in our favour. Half of the work, we will keep ready in the background. As soon as the court will seek report, Police will send it immediately by hand and on the basis of that report this case will be put up in the court. There will be short hearing of 5 to 10 minutes, not a long argument and the judge does accept or deny the bail.

SS: OK. Tell us how to proceed further.

HT: I just want Mama ji to meet and settle the matter with this man (Mehmood Khan). Tell him to meet him and bargain the matter with him. When he (SHO) will get his share out of the whole matter, he will be more than happy to help. What’s his problem?

SS: We are desperately looking for someone to help us. Somehow he (Rajbeer) should come out of India and rest with peace even at home in India.

HT: He will walk out. I will personally drop him at Delhi airport. After he is out on bail, I will ensure that he is out of the state.

SS: OK, let him be at his home in Jammu

HT: Yes, why shouldn’t he when he is relieved and bailed out of the matter. He will sit in peace.

SS: Should I send then Mama ji to bargain and settle the matter?

HT: Yes, send Mama ji for bargaining. Problem is that this SHO is getting offended with their behaviour. Even today at 4.00 pm, I had called the SHO and Mama ji and Vinay to my office because it becomes difficult to strike a deal inside Police Station. I thought they will talk face to face and strike the deal. I thought once the SHO is in our hand, our job is done. But they (Mama ji and Vinay) didn’t cooperate.

SS: Did the SHO come to your office?

HT: Yes he did. I arranged their meeting at my office.

SS: OK, its all clear now. I will speak to Mama ji and send him.

HT: You speak to Mama ji. Tell him don’t go here and there. Just concentrate on the main person. Please make him understand that nobody will intervene and help in such matter until he gets a share out of it. Nobody here will help without interest. Everybody will have a motive and try to make some benefit out of it.

SS: OK, I will send Mama ji early in the morning tomorrow.

HT: I say just do it today and don’t leave it for tomorrow. Had they done it yesterday, FIR would not have been registered today. He would have closed this chapter.

HS: I will just speak to Mama ji and tell him to act accordingly.

SS: We will stay in touch. I will call you back in 15 or 20 minutes.

HT: Sure, sure. Don’t worry. Absolutely not.

END

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STATE TIMES IMPACT

SI Mehmood Khan placed under suspension, IGP orders enquiry

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

JAMMU, May 16: Consequent upon the exposure of a deal he attempted to strike for the release of an NDPS detainee Rajbeer Singh, as exclusively published by STATE TIMES in its edition on May 14, incharge of Narwal Police Post (under Bahu Fort Police Station) Sub Inspector Mehmood Khan has been placed under suspension and removed from his posting.

According to order issued by SSP Jammu on May 15, incharge Police Post Gujjar Nagar, Sub Inspector Waseem Meraj, has been appointed as the new head of PP Narwal. He has taken over immediately. SSP, under instruction of IGP Jammu Danish Rana, has ordered an enquiry into Mehmood Khan’s working which would be conducted by Additional SP Chandan Kohli (IPS).

IGP Jammu Mr Danish Rana told STATE TIMES that he took cognizance of an audio clip that was provided to him earlier this month. “When I listened to this audio in a couple of days and it appeared to me that prima facie something serious has occurred, I ordered an inquiry. Yesterday, we placed Sub Inspector Mehmood Khan under suspension and replaced him with another Sub Inspector. We have taken cognizance and will take further action on the basis of the enquiry report”, IGP said.

END

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Published in today’s STATE TIMES

STATE TIMES EXCLUSIVE

How Kashmiri youth was framed in drug case to extort money from NRI family

J&K Police officer bargained ‘clean chit’ with NRI family in USA with the help of a businessman friend; filed FIR hastily when IGP intervened

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz/ Vivek Sharma

_________

JAMMU, May 13: On March 7 this year, Jammu Police claimed to have arrested “two drug peddlers”, namely Rajbeer Singh and Sameer Ahmad Mir, residents of Baramulla at a naka on Jammu-Delhi national highway. It claimed to have recovered from their Wagon R, JK02AL-2298, 6500 intoxicating capsules and 65 bottles of banned syrup. It said that the naka was laid on “specific information” and FIR No: 51/2016 under sections 8, 21 and 22 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered against the two detainees at Bahu Fort Police Station. “During questioning, the drug peddlers revealed that consignment was brought from outside the State for sale among the youth in Jammu district”.

Weeks later, STATE TIMES learned that three, not two, persons were travelling in the vehicle when it was intercepted during a routine checking, not on any specific information, on March 5^th  at 11.30 pm, not on March 7^th at 10.50 pm, at Kunjwani Chowk, not at Bala Chowk Kunjwani, as shown in the Police records. While investigating further, it became clear that head of Narwal Police Post, Sub Inspector Mehmood Khan, held the duo in wrongful confinement without disclosing their “arrest” for two days and with the help of a Kashmiri businessman friend, Haseeb Tramboo, the Police officer bargained Rajbeer Singh’s “clean chit” with his NRI family based in Cleveland, United States of America.

The FIR was filed hastily, around 48 hours later, on March 7^th, when the NRI family in Cleveland contacted an immigrant from Jammu, Ms Bindu, who called her school days class-fellow, Mr Danish Rana---currently Inspector General of Police Jammu--- and sought his help in release of Rajbeer Singh. In minutes of IGP’s call to SSP Jammu, SI Mehmood Khan sensed that the matter had been taken up with the higher authorities.  He did not lose a second to file the FIR.

Even as the recording of Mr Khan’s and Mr Tramboo’s call, which is available with STATE TIMES, was provided to senior Police officials earlier this month, no enquiry or any other action has been initiated against the Police officer and his businessman friend, bringing into question J&K Police’s system of taking cognizance and making the delinquent officials accountable.

During the course of investigation, Rajbeer’s relatives revealed that his brother Harjot Singh was settled in Cleveland along with parents and brother-in-law Summerpreet Singh. They are running a business in stores. Rajbeer, who lived at his house in Baramulla during summer and his house in Nanak Nagar during winter, was also planning to move to USA after completing a course in computer sciences.

In Jammu, Rajbeer developed friendship with one Joginder and invested Rs 1.50 lakh in his ice cream business. On March 3rd, Rajbeer left for New Delhi in his Wagon R, alongwith Joginder and another Baramulla-based youth Sameer. Rajbeer’s vehicle met with an accident at Patiala where he left back his Wagon R and travelled to Delhi by a taxi to catch up with a woman friend. Joginder followed him after repairing the vehicle and joined him at a hotel in Pahargunj area. On March 4^th, Rajbeer and Joginder purchased some cooling equipment for latter’s ice factory. On March 5^th, on their return, they were stopped by a Police party at Kunjwani Chowk, falling in jurisdiction of Gangyal Police Station.

While Rajbeer and Sameer were held at Narwal Police Post, Joginder was let off without questioning, leading to suspicions about his working for Police secretly. He moved out with three compressors, one AC plate besides a bag of Haldi and a packet of milk. Khan established contact with a number of Rajbeer’s relatives through businessman friend Haseeb Tramboo who reportedly operates business from Narwal. Rajbeer’s relatives revealed that money was straightaway demanded with the assurance that the boy would be left off the frame and let off.

“Since the demand ranged between Rs 5.00 lakh and Rs 10.00 lakh, we requested them to talk directly to Rajbeer’s brother and other family members in USA”, said one of his relatives in Jammu.

Sometime on March 7^th, a telephonic conversation for 19 minutes and 20 seconds happened between the phones of Tramboo (in Jammu) and Harjot (in Cleveland). Tramboo facilitated SHO’s direct conversation with Rajbeer’s brother Harjot and Harjot’s brother-in-law Summerpreet Singh. Sub Inspector Khan told Harjot that his relatives in Jammu had “unnecessarily highlighted and delayed too much” and documentation of the case had happened. He clarified to Harjot that he could not help if his relatives continued to “highlight” it to senior officers and media.

“We are ready to do anything for Rajbeer’s release as he is supposed to reach USA shortly. We can pay money”, Harjot said. “No, there’s no issue of money. Money we will see later. For now, you should concentrate on bail”, SHO retorted. Both, Khan and Tramboo, explained to Harjot and Summerpreet that Police would make “a favourable report” that would facilitate Rajbeer’s release on bail. Tramboo assured the family that he would use the services of his family firm and engage the best criminal lawyers but made it clear that it all could be done only after the matter would be settled with the Police officer.

Tramboo further assured fellow residents of Baramulla and classmates, Harjot and Summerpreet, that he would drop Rajbeer at International Airport in New Delhi where he would board a US-bound flight.

However, before the exchange of money would be fixed and executed, Rajbeer’s family in USA sought help from one Ms. Bindu with the expectation that her intervention through IGP Jammu would ensure the detainee’s release in a legal manner. It proved counter-productive as Bahu Fort Police immediately booked Rajbeer and Sameer in the FIR under NDPS. On March 31, 2016, case was challaned in court of First Additional District Judge Jammu. Rajbeer and Sameer are in District Jail Amphalla in Jammu.

END

[Published in Saturday’s STATE TIMES]

BCAS orders inquiry into Indigo Airline’s security breach at Srinagar airport

Chief Security Officer of AAI caught travelling on junior’s boarding card

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

________

SRINAGAR, May 11: Even as efforts are underway to hush up the matter of a major security breach of Indigo Airlines at Srinagar Airport, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has ordered an inquiry to learn how Chief Security Officer of Airports Authority of India (AAI) travelled from Srinagar to New Delhi on a subordinate official’s boarding card.

Different security and intelligence agencies on monitoring and surveillance at the country’s most sensitive airport have reported to their respective headquarters that on April 1^st, 2016, AAI’s CSO Tilak Raj Guglani boarded Indigo Airline flight 6E 436, minutes before its departure at 1400 hours and travelled to New Delhi on the boarding pass of his junior official Vimal Kumar. It has been pointed out that this kind of travelling is not only criminal in nature but also a serious security breach.

Highly placed authoritative sources revealed to STATE TIMES that BCAS has ordered an inquiry by Amritsar-based Deputy Commissioner Ashitosh Vasist. Mr Vasist travelled to Srinagar and had a series of interactions with different officials of various agencies, besides the Indigo Airlines staff. However, he is understood not to have submitted his report to BCAS in the last seven weeks.

Some officials privy to the development insisted that efforts were afoot to hush up the matter even as four employees of Indigo Airlines had been briefly removed from duty and placed under suspension. Sources identified the officials suspended as Assistant Manager Mohammad Nadeem, Farhat, Syed Asif and Mudassar who were reportedly on duty beside the aircraft and had stamped Tilak Raj’s boarding card, drawn in the name of Vimal Kumar, even after noticing that it did not have the signatures of the anti-hijacking officials on duty.

“It’s an extremely serious lapse that can warrant cancellation of the private airline’s license to operate at this sensitive airport. Anti-hijacking staff (a component of Security Wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police) got suspicious of the unusual conversation between Tilak Raj and Indigo staff at the boarding point. When it became clear to them that AAI’s CSO had boarded the aircraft on a different official’s boarding card, they tried to stop it but the plane had started movement for departure at the tarmac. The AHJ staff immediately brought it to the notice of SSP Anti-hijacking Manzoor Ahmad Dalal, who, in turn, alerted his senior officials.

Indigo Airline’s Station Manager at Srinagar Airport Aasiya Bashir picked up the telephone from this newspaper. When she was asked about the incident, she dropped the phone. She did not respond to phone calls when STATE TIMES repeatedly tried to contact her for a comment. Assistant Manager Mohammad Nadeem picked up the call but insisted that no such incident had taken place at Srinagar Airport.

“I think you have received totally wrong information. There’s no AAI official by the name of Tilak Raj posted at this airport” Mohammad Nadeem maintained. He claimed that neither he nor anyone else of his staff had been placed under suspension.

SSP Anti-hijacking Manzoor Ahmad Dalal, however, confirmed to STATE TIMES that Chief Security Officer of AAI Mr Tilak Raj had been found travelling from Srinagar to New Delhi on April 1^st on an Indigo Airlines flight on the boarding card of his junior official Vimal Kumar. “Our surveillance staff noticed his movement and brought it to our notice. Indigo has perhaps initiated some action against its staff but I have learned that BCAS has ordered an inquiry and DC Mr Vasist is conducting it. He may be having the details”, Mr Dalal asserted. “A sword is definitely dangling on the head of Indigo Airlines for this security breach”, he added.

According to Mr Dalal, it was quite usual for AAI’s CSO and other AAI officers to move in the operational area while wearing their I-cards. However, it was for the first time that someone of them, who are ironically posted to pre-empt such breaches and violations, boarded the aircraft at the eleventh hour while making misuse of his official position and a private airlines staff failed to turn him back. Another official said that it was only the CSO who issues security passes to all concerned. “Yes, it’s a security guidelines breach. They should not have allowed him to board the aircraft that was ready for take-off”, another official said.

END

[Published in today’s STATE TIMES]

CONGRATULATIONS  AND BEST WISHES TO ZAFFAR

Unusually, Aijaz Hussain broke the bad news. "Sir he has been shot into head and just rushed to Soura. There's no chance of his survival", Aijaz said. It took us just 10 seconds to charge my Maruti-800 outside Daily Excelsior bureau office. Traffic rush was just half of today's. In the next 17 minutes, we were at his bed in the Emergency ward of SKIMS. Contrary to our wild apprehensions, we found him in full senses. Blood was still gushing out of his wound between his eyes and nostrils. As usual Barkha had reached there before everyone else. She looked traumatised and, for the first time, was not doing interviews, bytes and PTC. For a second, I began pressing myself to believe that he would survive even as, to my knowledge, nobody hit this way, had. We returned only after doctors assured us that the chances of his survival were bright as, they pointed out, his critical tissues and organs had escaped MIRACULOUSLY. Yes, it was a miracle, providential escape, indeed. Post-recovery, however, I felt he fall into a depression, thinking every time that he had been the target and would be hit fatally next time. I just beseeched him to frequently visit my office. He did. It took me around a month to make him believe that he had been shot for mistaken identity. He had done nothing of the sort we did every day. Perhaps a year or two later, we saw him join Barkha's NDTV and doing wonderful stories---initially from Jammu and later from Srinagar. He was a sub editor at daily KASHMIR IMAGES when two youngmen wielding pistols barged into his office, at Lambert Lane in Srinagar, and asked where's Zaffar Iqbal. "I'm Zaffar. How can I help you", he had replied, only to be answered with a bullet in point blank range. That was on May 29, 2002.

Many many congratulations to very dear colleague and a member of my news group KASHMIR FIRSTPOST, Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal, on occasion of his NIKAH today. Wish the couple all the blessings of Almighty and an everlasting partnership.

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

3 militants killed in Pulwama; thousands attend funeral

Residents clash with forces. In two days of inauguration, special and ordinary train services grounded in Kashmir

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

________

SRINAGAR, May 7: Three local militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in an encounter by security forces on Saturday in Pulwama district of South Kashmir where hundreds of residents clashed with Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and thousands attended the slain militants’ funeral amid anti-India and pro-Pakistan demonstrations.

Informed sources revealed to STATE TIMES that Special Operations Group (SOG) of Srinagar District Police, in coordination with SOG Awantipora and troops of Rashtriya Rifles 44^th battalion, launched a cordon-and-search operation at Punzgam village that falls in Revenue District Pulwama and Police District Awantipora, late on Friday night. According to the specific information available with SOG Srinagar, a group of three young militants of Hizbul Mujahideen was hiding in the village.

In the wee hours on Saturday, the holed up militants opened fire on the troops when they found Army, CRPF and SOG laying a cordon. Troops retaliated and all the three militants got killed with suffering any collateral damage. Three AK rifles were seized beside the bodies.

Officials identified the slain militants as Ashfaq Ahmad Baba S/o Ghulam Hassan Baba R/o Tahab, Ishfaq Ahmad Dar S/o Ghulam Hassan Dar R/o Dogripora and Haseeb Ahmad Pala S/o Ghulam Nabi Pala R/o Brao Bandina. Even as the officials maintained that all the three belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen, some knowledgeable sources insisted that Pala was a militant with Lashkar-e-Tayyiba. Officials said that Ashfaq and Ishfaq had joined militancy in 2014 while as Pala had joined in 2015.

Sources said that sensing trouble authorities imposed restrictions on the human movement early in the morning in half of Pulwama and Awantipora Police districts to pre-empt massive demonstrations and attacks on Police and security forces. Curfew-like situation prevailed in the whole area for the whole day. Reports said that scores of youths came out on the streets and directed intermittent attacks on a company headquarter of CRPF 184 Bn at Tahab. Police and CRPF exercised restraint and dispersed the crowds with aerial firing and tearsmoke.

Still, around 5,000 people participated in Ashfaq Ahmad Baba’s funeral prayers and procession at Tahab and 3,000 each in the funeral of Ishfaq Ahmad Dar and Haseeb Pala at Dogripora and Brao Bandina. Reports said that the demonstrators shouted anti-India, pro-Azadi and pro-Pakistan slogans. At least six demonstrators and paramilitary soldiers sustained injuries. Due to the turbulence, authorities froze all the train services---including the special trains inaugurated by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in Anantnag two days back---on Banihal-Baramulla track in Kashmir.

Officials put the number of the participants  in the funeral at Tahab at 1,500. They claimed that lesser number of people attended the slain militants’ funeral at Dogripora and Brao Bandina.

END

[Published in today’s STATE TIMES]

BJP MLA’s son fired as PP for being soft to ‘killers’ of Kashmiri trucker

Two BJP-sponsored Govt. advocates were disengaged in September for supporting ban on cow-slaughter and consumption of beef in J&K

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

_______

JAMMU, May 4: Chenani MLA Dina Nath Bhagat’s son, Naresh Kumar Bhagat, is the 5^th BJP-sponsored lawyer dismissed as a government advocate by the PDP-led coalition in Jammu and Kashmir. Even as officials quoted only ‘poor performance’ and the order issued by Department of Law and Parliamentary Affairs on May 1^st, 2016, did not specify the reasons in detail, well-placed government sources confirmed that advocate Bhagat’s services as Public Prosecutor (PP) in the court of District and Sessions Judge Udhampur were terminated for his being “hand-in-glove” with the assailants of a young Kashmiri trucker, Zahid Rasool Bhat of South Kashmir.

Around 20-year-old student, who occasionally boarded a neighbour’s truck as cleaner from Anantnag to Jammu and Delhi, Zahid had succumbed to injuries in New Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital on October 17, 2015. He, alongwith, driver Shaukat Ahmad, had sustained critical injuries when a group of Udhampur residents, allegedly owing allegiance to radical Hindu outfits, attacked their truck late in the night on October 9 in Shiv Nagar neighbourhood of Udhampur.

In the wake of the separatist-sponsored shutdown and demonstrations in Kashmir valley, Udhampur Police Station filed FIR and launched a crackdown. Of the seventeen persons allegedly involved in the attack, eight were arrested for the fatal attack. They had broken windscreen of the targeted truck and set it on fire when Zahid and Shaukat, alongwith another youth, Rameez, were preparing to sleep on board. Zahid sustained 70% burn injuries and subsequently died on October 17.

Remaining nine persons were booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) by the District Magistrate Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary on a dossier prepared by SSP Udhampur and detained in Jammu’s Kote Bhalwal Jail.

“Rather than pursuing the case in the court, the PP looked hand-in-glove with the accused. He would often carry out political tours with his father. Since the Police went unpresented and the District Court ordered release of an accused as juvenile, SSP observed that the PP was remarkably soft towards the accused. Finally, Government had no option but to terminate the PP’s service”, DC Udhampur Dr Shahid Iqbal told STATE TIMES.

According to DC Udhampur, SSP filed a written complaint which was forwarded to Director General of Police, K Rajendra Kumar, and further to Principal Secretary Home, R.K. Goyal. Both of them were perturbed over Mr Bhagat’s conduct and performance. Principal Secretary Home requested Commissioner-Secretary Law, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, to terminate advocate Bhagat’s service and engage a new PP on merit. Now functioning under PDP’s Abdul Haq Khan, Department of Law on May 1st ordered dismissal of Mr Bhagat and Additional PP of Kathua, Sunil Singh.

During Mehbooba Mufti’s regime, 3^rd Additional PP of Jammu, Sarvesh Gupta, was the first government advocate to be fired on April 25 for submitting acquittal of some rape accused persons after expiry of the period of appeal.

In Jammu division, almost all the lawyers picked up by the Mufti government as Additional Advocate General, Deputy Advocate General, Government Advocate, Public Prosecutor or Standing Council, were closely linked to BJP leaders and sponsored by their party. Advocate General, Jehangir Iqbal Ganai (who was later replaced by senior advocate D.C. Raina in Governor’s rule), besides AAGs, DAGs, PPs and Standing Councils picked up from Kashmir Division were favourites of the PDP.

On September 22, 2015, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s government terminated the services of two BJP-linked advocates on account of their failure to represent the State when, on September 9, 2015, a Division Bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, comprising Mr Justice Janak Raj Kotwal and Mr Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur, had directed DGP to strictly enforce a 150-year-old law banning cow-slaughter and consumption of beef in Jammu and Kashmir

Advocate Vishal Sharma, who was accused of dereliction of duty and breach of trust and fired as AAG, happened to be the son of senior advocate and the J&K President of VHP, Leela Karan Sharma. In 2008, Leela Karan Sharma had organised and led Amarnath land agitation in Jammu.

Advocate Parimoksh Seth, also closely linked to BJP, had been petitioner of the PIL seeking blanket ban on cow-slaughter and consumption of beef as per a law introduced by erstwhile Maharaja and adopted by the J&K Government after 1947. Mufti’s Government had appointed him as Deputy Advocate General on BJP’s recommendation without knowing whether or not he had withdrawn his PIL from J&K High Court. He lost his job when he pursued the PIL that ran contrary to PDP’s political interest.

Seth’s influence in BJP could be gauged by the fact that in days of his dismissal, Himachal Pradesh-based BJP MP Anurag Thakur got him engaged as a counsel in the prestigious Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Police officers in Udhampur say that District Court could not enlarge one of the accused, Suneet Singh, on bail as juvenile as, according to the prosecution, he was not a minor. They say that the accused was released only because the PP did not contest it. However, DC Udhampur insisted that the order was not implemented as the Police challenged it in High Court.

Udhampur-based lawyers claimed that District Court enlarged not only Suneet Singh but also another accused, namely Vikas Sharma, on bail. They claimed that both had been released. They said that High Court has, meanwhile, stayed proceedings of the trial court.

END

[Published in today’s STATE TIMES]

Army to flag issue of crowd attacks at Unified Hqs meeting with Mehbooba

Stone pelting crowds helped 6 militants escape in two operations on April 28

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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JAMMU, April 30: Highly perturbed over escaping of at least 20 militants with the local crowds’ support in different counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir valley in the last four months---six in Kupwara and Anantnag on April 28---Army has decided to prominently highlight the law and order issue in Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s first Unified Headquarters meeting on May 10^th.

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command Lt Gen D.S. Hooda, besides GOCs of Srinagar-based 15 Corps and Nagrota-based 16 Corps, sources said, would flag the issue of the local crowds’ attacks on the security forces during the counter-insurgency operations at the high level meeting at SKICC. Army has noted with concern that its warnings issued in February this year have not yielded any results.

“As a matter of the fact, such attacks on the troops (engaged in an operation) have increased and intensified in the last three months. Wherever we launch an operation on the basis of specific operation about presence of militants at a hideout, we meet huge resistance from the local population. At least three civilians lost their lives in two operations in Pulwama district alone. It’s a matter of huge concern for Army as we are neither equipped with batons and teargas nor trained to deal with such situations”, a senior Army officer told STATE TIMES.

The officer said that dealing with crowds and demonstrators was essentially the responsibility of the State Police. He claimed that around 20 militants escaped since January this year in different operations when local crowds gathered, attacked security forces with stones, shouted slogans and used public address system of the community mosques to mobilise people and fail our operations.

On specific information, Army, with Police and paramilitary forces, launched two separate operations at Kanthpora in Kupwara and Anantnag town on April 28. Even as one unidentified militant got killed in exchange of fire with the Army in Kupwara, three of his associates, according to sources, managed to escape. Like in several areas of South Kashmir, residents gathered and failed Army’s operation while shouting slogans and pelting stones and brickbats of the troops.

Similarly, three unidentified militants made good their escape after the local residents attacked Army with stones and shouted anti-India, anti-Army, pro-Azadi and pro-Pakistan slogans on the same day. “Troops observed maximum possible restraint as the attack on them came from the population in the Chief Minister’s home constituency.

While as Ms Mufti represents Anantnag constituency in Lok Sabha, his father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who later became Chief Minister, was returned for Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in Anantnag segment. Ms Mufti is expected to resign her Lok Sabha membership and contest Assembly election from her father’s vacated seat of Anantnag. Mufti passed away on January 7^th this year.

For the time being, authorities have decided to impose restrictions under section 144 of Cr PC in the areas of 3 Km radius from the spot of an operation. However, a policy would be framed in the Unified Headquarters meeting that would also be attended by Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary Home, DGP J&K Police, Special DG CRPF, representatives of the Central intelligence agencies and Divisional Commissioners and IGPs of Kashmir and Jammu divisions.

END

[Published in today’s STATE TIMES]