Two police officers in chief minister Omar Abdullah’s security detail were removed overnight following the disclosure that in connivance with a ruling National Conference activist, at least one of them had tried to misuse the chief minister’s name and authority to influence some senior officials and seek undue favours from them for a third party. This in the hope of receiving kickbacks from the beneficiary, as was alleged.
The chief minister was quite upset at the exposé and had called senior police officials to investigate. However, the ugly turned uglier soon. The NC activist, who is a contractor and land broker by profession, died in police custody, setting off protests by his family and neighbours. The Opposition People’s Democratic Party seized it to denigrate the chief minister and his office.
The state government has ordered a judicial probe into the death of Syed Muhammad Yusuf, the NC block president of southern Bijbehara town.
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Omar sorry for rape victim name disclosures
AGE CORRESPONDENT
srinagar, Sept. 30
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Friday tendered an unqualified apology in the state Assembly, now in its autumn session here, for the disclosure of names and addresses of rape victims in the Valley which he admitted was in violation of Supreme Court ruling. He said, “Since I’m the chief minister and the home minister of the state, I’ve a deep sense of shame and a deep sense of apology over the disclosures of the names of rape victims. I tender an unqualified apology to the rape victims and their families and I will ensure such a thing does not happen again.”
He also assured he would get back to the members after making a thorough inquiry as to why and in what circumstances the list was released in the Legislative Council in a written reply to the question of a member.
Earlier, Opposition PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti raised the issue and alleged that by revealing the names of the victims with their parentage and addresses the government had only pushed them into another ordeal and stigma.