Ex-IAS officer Faesal on ‘militant radar’

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 29

Weeks after resigning from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Shah Faesal is on the radar of militants after the Hizbul Mujahideen called the 2010 IAS topper “fodder of India” and asked people to boycott polls.

Incidentally, on the day the Hizb asked people not to get misled by Faesal’s entry into politics, the Jammu and Kashmir Police enhanced the security to the former IAS officer.

“…India is trying to show that people are with them. Now India has hatched a nefarious plan to make elections successful and they have made Shah Faesal fodder,” a Hizb poster in Urdu that surfaced on social media (WhattsApp) read.

The poster appealed to the people to boycott the polls.

“Our appeal to the people is to boycott polls because it is the design of the enemy. If you vote for Shah Faesal, India will say entire Kashmir is with us. Please do not be misled by Shah Faesal,” it added.

A senior police officer said they were verifying the authenticity of the poster.

Another police officer said the poster had said what the stated position of militant outfits is over Faesal.

Meanwhile, the former IAS officer could not be reached for his comments.

Faesal, hailing from a remote area of Kupwara district in North Kashmir had topped the IAS examination in 2010, had resigned from the services early this month and announced his decision to join politics. Though there were earlier indications that he would be joining the National Conference, on January 11 he set at rest the speculation, saying he was not going to join any existing political party.

He has launched a mass contact programme, meeting all stakeholders, mainly youths, before taking any decision to contest the Parliament elections. He would be visiting all districts of the state before taking any decision in accordance with the wishes of people.

Verifying the authenticity of the poster: Police 

• A senior police officer said they were verifying the authenticity of the poster 
• Shah Faesal, hailing from a remote area of Kupwara district in North Kashmir had topped the IAS examination in 2010, had resigned from the services early this month and announced his decision to join politics