Senior Jammu and Kashmir cop gave Pakistan information, suspended

SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir police suspended a deputy superintendent on Thursday for passing on sensitive information about security deployment to Pakistani intelligence agencies during the ongoing unrest in the Kashmir Valley.

J&K DGP K Rajendra Kumar placed the erring officer under suspension and initiated a probe after getting inputs from the ministry of home affairs about the frequent contact of DSP, armed police control room, Tanveer Ahmad, on telephone with Pakistani agents across the border. The DGP said that it looked like a case of negligence.

According to Tanveer Ahmad, he received a call at the control room phone a month ago from a person identifying himself as an Army commander. The caller wanted him to share the details of the deployment of police and para-military forces at various places in the Valley. "Before sharing the details, I sought permission from my SP," he said.

The DSP, according to sources, shared the details using WhatsApp. However, the MHA traced the call and investigated the details. The MHA then informed the DGP, who ordered a probe a fortnight ago.

Intelligence sources said police officers dealing with anti-insurgency in Kashmir have been receiving calls from Pakistan for the last few years. The callers generally introduce themselves as officers of other security agencies and seek details of deployment of the forces.

However, police officers on duty normally refuse and ask the callers to come through proper official channels.