By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Kishtwar (Jammu): A photograph of Minister of State (MoS), PMO, Dr. Jatinder Singh along with BJP MLAs from Chenab region of J&K posing with main accused in the killing of a Muslim labourer during Kishtwar riots have left the right-wing party red faced. The photograph has gone viral on social networking websites Facebook and Twitter.
The newspaper, Indian Express quoted MoS Singh who distanced himself from the controversy and denied any connection with the murder accused.
“He was part of a delegation from Paddar brought to him by local Kishtwar MLA Sunil Sharma. The delegation was seeking Scheduled Tribe status for some people in Paddar area in Kishtwar.We meet a large number of delegations daily and many of the people are not known to us,” Singh was quoted by Indian Express.
The newspaper further alleged the said MLA Sunil Sharma, an ex-minister in the PDP-BJP coalition government, of prodding Indian Express reporter not to carry the news report of Kasooru being part of a delegation led by him.
“It is not proper to speak about own people,” Sharma was quoted as saying by IE.
Sharma while speaking to TwoCircles.net termed the Indian Express claims ‘a bundle of lies’.
He said, “I didn’t tell the reporter not to run the story. He is lying. I told him that I will verify the allegations and only after that I can comment.”
When asked about murder charges against Hari Krishan, MLA Sunil Sharma tried to dodge the question by continuous laugh and said, “What should I say? I will call you later.” Sharma hadn’t called back till this story was published.
The murder accused-Hari Krisha alias Kasooru-of Padder Tehsil in Kishtwar District, is accused of murdering Lassa Khanday, while leading a mob as retaliation in the town after Kishtwar riots in 2013. Kasooru is alleged to have dragged Lassa Khanday from an ambulance parked in the Helipad, where he was waiting for state helicopter to shift his wounded son and brother to the hospital during the communal violence in the erstwhile Paddar. The Police had then formed groups to trace him, but were unable to do so. Next morning, his dead body was found outside the fencing of the Helipad opposite where the Ambulance was parked.
In this connection, a case under section 364, 307, 147, 148, 336 427, 34 RPC was registered in police station Atholi.
Although the name of Hari Krishan had surfaced among 10 other accused, he was never arrested due to alleged pressure from BJP.
The riots in Kishtwar saw over 100 business establishments raised to ground, gun houses looted, and the loss of three lives.