Security of sensitive Kishtwar jeopardised, SSP flags concern
Sanjeev K Sharma
JAMMU, Dec 19: Close to the heels of exposure regarding engagement of terrorist elements by the company, Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), tasked to complete the Rattle Hydel Project in Drabshalla area of mountainous Kishtwar, names of some 29 persons working in the project and having criminal and terrorist background have come to fore.
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In a letter, SSP Kishtwar, Naresh Singh has sought verification report of employees of the company from General Manager MEGA Pvt Ltd, HEP, Rattle Drabshalla.
The letter contained names of 29 workers presently working in the Rattle Hydel Project and having criminal and terrorist backgrounds wherein the most notorious in the list remained Mohd Iqbal, son of Mohd Anwer Butt, resident of Badhat, Drabshalla, real brother of active dreaded terrorist Mohd Amin alias Jahangir Saroori of terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen who is active in terrorism since the year 1992 in district Kishtwar.
Apart from this, Tanveer Ahmed, son of Ab Karim Butt, resident of Badhat, Drabshalla, an Over Ground Worker (OGW) and father of Jahangir Saroori, was also a worker in the Hydel project along with Shamash Din, son of Abdul Gani Butt, resident of Badhat, a cousin brother of Jahangir Saroori.
Still another worker in the Hydel Project was Mohd Nair, son of Ab Kalam Mattoo, resident of Drabshalla, who was father of a surrendered militant.
Apart from this, there were more OGWs and people with criminal records, who were working in the company engaged in the Hydel Project.
In letter, the SSP cited directions of his higher ups for verification of character and antecedents of employees of Mega Pvt Ltd HEP, Rattle Drabshalla, who were residents of Kishtwar.
The district Police chief claimed, in the letter, that as per the report of concerned Station House Officers (SHOs), 29 employees of Mega Pvt Ltd HEP, Rattle Drabshalla, were found involved in subversive and anti-national activities.
It further stated that since the Hydro Electric Power Projects are of immense strategic and national significance and remain high risk targets of the enemy country, the company should ensure that by engaging such employees, security of Power Projects do not get compromised as these individuals were having militancy backgrounds.
The General Manager was asked to reconsider the engagement of such employees who were having militancy links or criminal background as such employees can do anything and pose a threat to the project.
The SSP further suggested for the need to keep a close watch and surveillance over the activities of such employees.
“If anything adverse or suspicious comes to the notice against such employees, the same may be shared to the SSP office or nearest police establishment immediately so that necessary action as warranted under the law can be taken,” the letter by the SSP maintained.
However, SSP Kishtwar, Naresh Singh could not be contacted for comments.
Few days back, the Joint Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), Harpal Singh, had posted a video on social media claiming that the local MLA was interfering in the project works.
Despite repeated attempts, Harpal Singh could not be contacted.
When contacted, MLA Kishtwar, Shagun Parihar informed that she has filed a defamation suit of Rs. 10 crore against the COO Harpal Singh in the Court of Law as he had wrongly claimed that she was obstructing the project works.
“We are living in a sensitive area and by engaging the people having close relation with dreaded terrorists, the COO is compromising our security,” she maintained adding: “Can the COO ensure that those associated with terrorists had not shared the sketches and other strategic and sensitive details of the project with Pakistan.”
The MLA asked: “On what base the Pakistan is threatening India to blow this and that if Indus water Treaty is suspended.”
“This clearly means that something is wrong at the bottom,” she continued.
Shagun Parihar has lost her father Ajit Parihar and uncle Anil Parihar few years back in a dreaded terrorist attack in Kishtwar.
It is pertinent to mention here that NHPC Limited, India’s premier hydropower company under the Ministry of Power, has formed Rattle Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited, a joint venture company (JVC) with J&K State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDC) for the implementation of the run-of-river hydroelectric plant on the Chenab river at Drabshalla village. The JVC was incorporated on June 1, 2021, with NHPC and JKSPDC. The construction work is being undertaken by MEIL.
Sources informed that construction of the 850 MW Rattle Hydroelectric Power Project in Kishtwar district provided employment to 1,434 people, 960 of which were from Kishtwar district, 220 from Doda, 24 from Ramban and 215 from outside J&K.
Few months back, retrenchment of some 230 workers from the project triggered resentment among the locals of the area who claimed that 35 of the ousted employees were those who have lost their lands in the project.
Locals also informed that nearness of the COO Harpal Singh to a Kashmir based political outfit was exposed when he ousted some contractors selectively to allot works to others only to remain in good books of his political bosses.
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