A controversy has erupted in Kishtwar following claims by local BJP MLA Shagun Parihar regarding the recent deaths of two Special Police Officers (SPOs). The two officers, 57-year-old Babi Chand and 45-year-old Rashpal Kumar, were found dead in a forest area in Dachhan on Thursday, having gone missing while traveling to a security post in Marwah.
MLA Shagun Parihar alleged during a video recording at a wreath-laying ceremony that the security personnel were targeted selectively. She questioned the delay in arrests and claimed that information was leaked from the area, alleging that specific announcements were made from a mosque prior to the incident. Parihar stated, "Announcements were made from a mosque. Someone must be passing on information, and leaking intelligence from here."
Jahanzaib Sirwal, a local BJP leader, publicly criticized these remarks, describing them as "deeply unfortunate and factually unsubstantiated." He argued that linking religious institutions to such allegations without credible evidence risks creating mistrust and suspicion. Sirwal further distanced the party from recent comments by the Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly, Sunil Sharma, who had suggested the killings were linked to ethnic cleansing, warning that such assertions could foster insecurity.
The Islami Markaz-e-Majlis Shura, led by Jamia Masjid Imam Maulana Farooq Ahmad Kichloo, has officially rejected the MLA's claims. The organization demanded a public apology, emphasizing that Kishtwar is a sensitive region where unverified accusations against religious institutions could jeopardize communal harmony. Maulana Kichloo challenged the MLA to provide concrete evidence, asking if she could identify the specific mosque or individuals involved.
The organization affirmed its historical stance against terrorism, including the condemnation of attacks on the Amarnath Yatra. They stated that the investigation should be left to the administration and security agencies, urging public representatives to exercise restraint in their rhetoric to avoid deepening societal divisions.
Key facts
- SPOs Babi Chand and Rashpal Kumar were found dead in a Dachhan forest area on Thursday.
- MLA Shagun Parihar alleged that announcements were made from a mosque before the killings.
- Jahanzaib Sirwal, a local BJP leader, called the allegations against the religious institution "unsubstantiated."
- The Islami Markaz-e-Majlis Shura has formally requested a public apology from the MLA.
- The organization asserted that it has consistently condemned all acts of violence, including attacks on the Amarnath Yatra.
Why it matters
Local community leaders and the organization are concerned that the dissemination of unverified claims against religious institutions could disturb the fragile communal harmony in the Kishtwar district. They have urged political figures to prioritize facts and responsibility to prevent potential social instability in the region.
Source: Times of India
Comments