NO NEED TO TAKE MEHBOOBA SERIOUSLY: J&K GOVERNOR
JAMMU : Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday said there was no need to take former chief minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti seriously and her “politically motivated” statements ahead of elections would not demoralise security forces in the state.
Malik’s remarks come a day after Mufti demanded action against an army officer, who allegedly tortured a Pulwama resident, Tauseef Wani, and threatened to kill him in an encounter. “I stand by our forces and we have given directions that excesses (by security forces), if any, must be probed and action taken. In some such cases with regard to the police force, we are taking action and transferring all erring personnel. But we stand by our forces,” said Malik on the sidelines of a programme in Jammu University here.
Malik said Mufti’s remarks against the army officer aimed at gaining public support ahead of the upcoming elections. “It is the time of elections. Her party is breaking. She is in a bad state. She had come to power through this sort of support. There is no need to take her seriously. Indian forces are very strong and they are not going to be demoralised by Mufti and her statements,” he said.
units and Territorial Army (TA) battalions.
Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday accused the army of torturing Tauseef. She alleged that an army officer asked Tauseef to pose with a gun inside Shadimarg camp and threatened to kill him in an encounter. Mehbooba also visited Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital to inquire about Tauseef’s condition.
Defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said that details are being ascertained.