By Ubairul Hameed
SRINAGAR: Davinder Singh, the police officer who was dismissed from service last year, has been “left of the hook” accused former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mahbooba Mufti after L-G Manoj Sinha’s order mentioned that it was “not expedient to hold an enquiry” against the controversial cop “in the interest of the security of the State”.
The order, which was issued by the commissioner secretary of the general administration department on behalf of Sinha, cited clause 2 of Article 311 of the Constitution, which carves out an exception for holding an inquiry before dismissing a person from service. ”If the president or the governor, as the case may be, is satisfied that in the interest of the security of the state, it is not expedient to hold such inquiry,” the clause says.
The former deputy superintendent of the Jammu and Kashmir Police was caught with Hizbul Mujahideen militants in January 2020. The NIA had named him in a chargesheet along with five others under various sections of the UAPA.
On Monday, Mehbooba Mufti, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, alleged that Davinder Singh was “let off the hook” despite being caught with militants, but “Kashmiris are considered guilty until proven innocent”.
Innocent Kashmiris arrested under anti terror laws rot in jails for years. For them the trial becomes the punishment. But GOI doesn’t want an enquiry against a cop caught red handed with militants. Is it because he colluded with the system to orchestrate certain dodgy incidents? pic.twitter.com/ozcEZE5S2g
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) August 2, 2021
“Kashmiris are considered guilty until proven innocent. Whether for governments job or even a passport they are subjected to the worst kind of scrutiny. But when a policeman is known to have facilitated militants he is let off the hook. The double standards & dirty games is obvious,” Mehbooba said in a tweet.
The Congress also demanded answers on the matter from the Centre.
Is the national interest so criminal ?