J&K Gov slams Mehbooba Mufti over remark on terror ops

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday termed the latest outbursts of former chief minister and Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti as her “political compulsion to regain the lost base in the Valley”.

While speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an official function in winter capital Jammu, the Governor said, “Since I am Governor, I don’t feel bad about what Mehbooba said about me the previous day. Moreover, she is daughter of my friend (Mufti Muhammad Sayeed), I don’t take her words seriously. But, I personally feel that it is her political compulsion to support militants to regain the lost base in the Valley.”

Ms Mufti had on Sunday warned that the harassment of the families of militants by the police “will lead to further alienation of Kashmiris.” She had urged the Governor to initiate action and prevent such incidents in the future and warned that if harassment of families of militants is not stopped it will have consequences leading to further alienation in the Valley.

She had while reacting to recent civilian killings in security forces’ action in southern district of Pulwama said that she “won’t allow bloodshed in Kashmir or turning southern Kashmir into a battleground”. She also said, “I want to ask the Governor that if you have a fight with a militant, why are his relatives, especially his sister, beaten? We will not allow this. I want to tell the Governor and warn the police as well that if there is another such incident, then there will be dangerous consequences.”

Meanwhile, governor Mr Malik has warned of action if the allegation that a woman relative of a militant was harassed by the police proves correct. He, however, also claimed that the family was questioned following “specific intelligence inputs”.

An official statement issued in Jammu said that it has been widely reported in media that three close relatives of a militant were allegedly arrested and harassed by the J&K police and that it also been alleged that the clothes of a woman among the arrested persons were also torn.

“It is clarified that there are standing general and specific instructions that  have been issued to all police officers and staff on not harassing families of militants. This is being followed meticulously in most circumstances. However, there could be a situation where a few relatives of a militant are questioned by police under due process of law so as to obtain details of a militant’s whereabouts.

This is done very rarely and only on the basis of specific information,” the statement said. It added that these persons were questioned by the police in Jammu district following “a very specific intelligence input”.

The Governor said, “I have been informed that there has been no tearing up of a lady’s clothes or her being harassed by the police. I once again reiterate that all police officers and staff will be directed not to harass ladies who happen to be relatives of militants or treat them in any unbecoming manner. Any questioning should be done as per normal practice only in the presence of a lady constable”.

Mr. Malik further said, “I also request all political parties to understand the fragile security situation in parts of Jammu and Kashmir and not to upset this through motivated statements and false allegations. This will only demoralize a hard-working police force”.

He said that he will direct Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) to look into the incident Ms. Mufti has referred to and see whether the woman has been harassed or her clothes have been torn as is being alleged. “If necessary, action will be taken against any police staff found acting wrongly”.