J&K to book shelling victims ‘for sedition’

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 17

Incredible, but true. Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir are preparing the ground to book victims of border shelling for sedition following their outburst against BJP leaders for “abandoning” them at the crucial time.

Shockingly, the local police are collecting evidence to book grieving sons of a deceased ex-serviceman who had criticised the saffron party leadership for treating border residents as “cannon fodder to reap political benefits”.

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Suresh Kumar Choudhary of Kamore Camp in Samba’s Ramgarh sector and son Punit had sustained serious injuries in Pakistan shelling on January 19. Suresh, 50, died on February 5 allegedly because of non-availability of medical facilities, 

Overcome by grief, the deceased’s sons Punit and Prashant reportedly made “derogatory” remarks against the BJP leadership while regretting they had voted for the BJP that had promised to restore peace and tranquility in border areas.

A video that went viralshowed the mourning family members using abusive language for the BJP leadership for “abandoning” them in their hour of grief. “We have reports that some persons raised anti-national slogans at the cremation. We have taken note of it in the DDR (daily diary report), " a senior police officer at the Ramgarh police station told The Tribune.

He said a formal FIR was yet to be registered but cops had been told to collect evidence and book the culprits for sedition. “Those involved in sloganeering will be identified and subsequently an FIR registered,” he said. “Humiliated by border residents, a furious BJP leadership has decided to stifle dissent in Jammu area,”  sources claimed.

Meanwhile, Panthers Party leader Harsh Dev Singh  has slammed the move.