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Journalism of Courage
Charges of selling drugs, of staging an encounter to lobby for a gallantry medal and now gun-running and bringing women from Punjab for ‘‘entertainment shows’’—the case against BSF’s 42 Battalion Commanding Officer Narender Singh is getting murkier by the day.
‘‘The Court of Inquiry is going on,’’ Inspector General, BSF (Kashmir range) J B Negi told The Indian Express today. ‘‘The article of charges has four more allegations: gun racket, bringing girls from Punjab (to Singh’s 42 battalion headquarters at Radar Station, Chrar-e-Sharief) and harassment of taxi drivers.’’
Negi said the BSF had taken a very clear stand on the issue. ‘‘We will not spare anybody. DIG, Srinagar, is the inquiry officer and we are waiting for the COI to conclude. Anybody found guilty will be dealt with as per the law,’’ he said.
He said that Constable Bashir Ahmad, who as reported by The Indian Express today, was arrested by the police while trying to sell three packets of brown sugar in Bandipore, has been suspended. ‘‘We are waiting for the police report and as soon as he is made available to us, we will question him too,’’ Negi said.
Sources said Singh would use local constables to purchase guns. ‘‘The purpose was simple. He would show recoveries in different fake raids so that he would show his good operational performance,’’ alleged a police officer who has been investigating the case in central Kashmir. Police are also probing Singh’s alleged links with a group of surrendered militants involved in extortion.
