Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday alleged that former Jammu and Kashmir police officer Davinder Singh, who carried terrorists in a vehicle last year, was let off by the Center while innocent Kashmiris were being punished for years under anti-terror laws and have to stay in jail.
Accusing the government of adopting double standards, Mehbooba said Kashmiris are considered guilty till proven innocent. Mehbooba's remarks came after a copy of a May 20 government order dismissing Singh from service surfaced on social media.
According to the official order, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had ordered the dismissal of Singh from service with "immediate effect" under Article 311 of the Constitution. This provision allows the government to remove someone from service without investigation and this decision can be challenged only in the High Court.
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Mehbooba questioned in a tweet, "Innocent Kashmiris arrested under anti-terror laws rotting in jails for years. For them, the trial itself becomes the punishment. But, the Indian government does not conduct an investigation against a policeman caught red-handed with terrorists. Is it because he colluded with the system to execute some lousy incidents?
The PDP president said, "Whether it is a matter of government job or passport, they (Kashmiris) have to face the worst scrutiny. But when a policeman is found to have helped terrorists, he is released. The double standards and nefarious designs are very clear".
Devinder Singh was arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in January last year while he was taking Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists from Kashmir to Jammu. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had probed the matter and filed a charge sheet against Singh and others.