Post Davinder Singh episode, MHA takes charge of J&K Police postings

GR News Desk | Srinagar

The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to take charge of all transfers and postings of the Jammu and Kashmir police personnel.

An official with the Home Ministry said that the MHA would also be involved in the operational effectiveness of the police in the union territory. The decision comes days after the J&K police arrested suspended cop, Davinder Singh for escorting terrorists to safety.

ALSO READ: DSP Davinder Singh involved in Parliament attack? Probe likely to expand.

The ministry has issued fresh orders stating that all postings of even station house officers must be made after informing the MHA. This responsibility would be handed by R R Bhatnagar, the advisor to the Lieutenant Governor.

He will suggest appropriate measures for effective policing and intelligence gathering, according to the MHA order.

Kashmir administration also forfeited the Sher-e-Kashmir Police Medal for Gallantry awarded to Davinder Singh in 2018.

Police had arrested Singh at Mir Bazar in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district along with Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists Naveed Baba and Altaf, besides a lawyer who was operating as an overground worker for terror outfits.

Searches were carried out at Singh's residence in Srinagar, right next to the Army's XV Corps headquarters at Badami Bagh cantonment, where he had sheltered Naveed, Altaf and a new recruit in the banned terror outfit, leading to the recovery of two pistols, an AK rifle and a large quantity of ammunition.

Intel suggest Jaish, Hizbul planned attacks in J&K ahead of Republic Day

As the union territory gears up for the Republic Day, intelligence agencies have uncovered plots by terror outfits Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) to carry out attacks in the region. According to intelligence reports that Mint had access to, “terrorists have got instructions to carry out" grenade and fidayeen (suicide) attacks,“ on or before 26 January" in Shopian, Budgam and Pulwama in Kashmir as well as Bhatindi and Narwar areas of Jammu, along the sensitive Sunjwan army camp.

Intelligence agencies have also flagged the movement of “unidentified" terrorists in Budgam district last week, having carried out a reconnaissance exercise of the 43 battalion of the CRPF camp, while Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist Zahid Nazeer Bhat who hails from Pulwama is now under the scanner for plotting an attack in Jammu’s Bhatindi area, which lines the sensitive Sunjwan camp of the Indian army.