Ashoke Pandit may face legal action over his 'J&K police terrorists' remark

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police is contemplating to take legal action against filmmaker Ashoke Pandit who recently called it pro-Pakistan and ‘terrorists’ in the khaki.

In the backdrop of April 5 police cane-charge against the agitating outstation students at Srinagar’s National Institute of Technology (NIT), Mr. Pandit wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter, ‘We always said #J&K police are #terrorists in the police uniform. Their heart has always been with #Pakistan. #NITCampusTension".

Mr. Pandit’s remark evoked widespread criticism and many even dubbed him as ‘lunatic’. Yet he found many others on his side who pointed out that apart from being a Kashmiri Pandit and a ‘son of the soil’ he is a responsible member of the film certification board appointed by Government of India.

But some of senior officers of J&K police while taking strong exception to Mr. Pandit’s ‘loose remark’ also took to social networking sites including Facebook to refute the charge that the force is bereft of nationalism and patriotism feelings. They also said they do not need any certificate of nationalism from anyone in the country.

“100s of our colleagues in JKP have gone back to their homes in coffins wrapped in #Tiranga to uphold its honour. Stand up with #JKP #NIT’, tweeted a police officer Imtiyaz Hussain. Reacting to criticism, Baramulla's Deputy Superintendent of Police Firoz Yehya wrote on his Facebook timeline "Many of my colleagues have been asking and many more must be thinking 'whose war are we fighting?'...All I can tell them is that this is just another phase and will pass. Further, Jammu and Kashmir Police doesn't need any certificate from people (in electronic media)”.

The post also reads,” We must continue doing the good work within the ambit of law and nothing shall deter us." The officer further said, “Good common people who we serve may be alienated with us for reasons more than one, and our good work shall certainly help us win their hearts."

Mubassir Latifi who is the Senior Superintendent of Police (Crime), said the police force “doesn't need any certificate of nationalism or impartiality from those whose valour doesn't extend beyond their keypads”. He asserted the J&K police “is a saga of sacrifice and courage and has brought this state out of a madness called terrorism."

His counterpart in Shopian (south Kashmir) police, Shailendra Mishra, while addressing the protesting outstation students said, “Be responsible with your words, students. The Jammu and Kashmir Police is a nationalist force with high professional standards."

Sources said that at the instance of their seniors, the J&K police officials are examining legal aspects of the issue and may soon register a formal case of defamation under Section 499 and other relevant provisions of the State’s Ranbir Penal Code against Mr. Pandit. End it