PDP takes aid of former top cop

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 24

To bring normalcy in volatile south Kashmir, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is taking assistance of its “loyalist” and former top counter-insurgency police official Ashiq Bukhari.

Sources said Bukhari, who is former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of J&K Police, had been camping in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district to provide assistance to the security forces, particularly the police, in bringing normalcy following the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

The majority of civilian killings have happened in south Kashmir.

Bukhari is residing at the Gazetted Officer’s Mess for the police in Anantnag town, the sources said.

Bukhari, who is known as PDP loyalist, has been given the assignment of “restoring normalcy” given his previous experience in tackling summer unrest in 2010.

Officials confirmed the presence of Bukhari in south Kashmir to assist the police and CRPF in dealing with the ongoing law and order situation. However, they said, the government had not issued any formal order to appoint him as “security adviser” to the government.

“Bukhari saheb has been our well-wisher and we have requested him to help us as a security expert,” a PDP leader told The Tribune.

Bukhari has been pivotal in restoring normalcy in 2010 after former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah appointed him as Senior Superintendant of Police (SSP) of Srinagar.

Bukhari was seen being garlanded at a PDP rally in north Kashmir ahead of the 2014 Assembly elections. However, he denied the press reports that he had joined the PDP.

Despite repeated attempts, Bukhari could not be contacted for comments.