Anantnag: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday drew fire on social media after a video surfaced allegedly depicting food packets being distributed at a BJP rally in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The vehicle that ferried the packets had a label of the J&K Police on it, triggering furore.
In a statement to The Wire, the J&K Police officially denied that the vehicle belonged to it. The video clearly shows that the vehicle is the same white gypsy that police officials in Kashmir use. It bore the number JK02BA 4558, according to a report in Greater Kashmir.
The Wire confirmed through multiple sources the authenticity of the video – which was shot during a rally addressed by BJP general secretary Ram Madhav at Khanabal in south Kashmir on Saturday. During the rally, Madhav took a swipe at former chief minister and president of J&K Peoples Democratic Party, Mehbooba Mufti and blamed her party for the security crises in Kashmir.
He also slammed Mehbooba for her memorable “toffee and milk” remark that has previously been used by separatists as well to chastise her for her alleged “insensitivity” towards the slain protesters. She had made those remarks during a press conference with Union home minister Rajnath Singh in 2016 when the Valley had plunged into a political crises following the death of Hizb militant Burhan Wani.
Madhav is currently on a one-day visit to Kashmir. Saturday is the last day of campaigning before the Anantnag constituency goes for the second phase of polling. The first phase of the three-phased south Kashmir polls took place on April 23. Addressing the media, Madhav also said that the BJP was optimistic about the elections in the state. “We are confident of winning more than three parliamentary seats in Jammu and Kashmir in the Lok Sabha elections,” he told ANI.
BJP rally in Anantnag. Credit: PTI
“BJP has become the mainstream party of the Kashmir Valley today. We will work for peace and development in the region,” he further said.
The Wire reached out to Deputy Inspector General of Police of south Kashmir, Atul Kumar, who dismissed the reports. “The reports are absolutely false. No vehicle of J&K police was used,” he said. When The Wire reasoned that the video was authentic and asked Kumar if he believed the video was doctored, he responded, “I won’t even examine these allegations. They are false and nothing of this sort happened.”
Later, the J&K Police also released a nuanced statement through official channels: “Today a video surfaced on social media where in one police vehicle is being seen being utilised for distribution of food items in a political party rally in Anantnag,” the statement read. “The vehicle in question was deployed for ferrying escort personnel of a protected person. The vehicle has been withdrawn from said protected person and driver of the vehicle has been attached. Enquiry into the matter has been ordered under rules.”
Madhav, who is on a campaign trail across many states, was recently given Y+ security cover. “The security was given based on the assessment by central agencies which have cited the threat. He was accorded Y plus security in February last year for the northeast. The cover is not only for elections and will continue till the next assessment by the agencies and MHA,” a report in the Economic Times quoted a government official as saying.
A Y+ security involves an escort vehicle, a personal security officer and a security detail of one guard commander and four guards for security at the residence. The guards will have an officer of sub-inspector level and three policemen with automatic weapons for any contingency, the report added.
The Wire also reached out to Sofi Yousuf, the BJP’s candidate for south Kashmir constituency, for comment. However, there was no response.