J&K cop Davinder Singh suspended for sheltering Hizbul terrorists at his residence

Senior Jammu and Kashmir police officer Davinder Singh was suspended on Monday even as it emerged that he had sheltered three terrorists, arrested along with him, at his residence here right next to Army's XV corps headquarters at Badami Bagh cantonment, officials said. Singh, who was decorated with President Police Medal about four months ago, continued to be grilled by a team of police and intelligence investigators. His office at Srinagar airport, where he was posted as deputy superintendent of police in anti-hijacking squad, was sealed, y said.

Piecing toger chain of events, officials said two terrorists -- self-styled district commander of banned Hizbul Mujahideen, Naveed Baba, and Altaf -- were taken to officer's home on Friday by a lawyer Irfan, who police said was an overground worker for terror groups. Davinder Singh reported absent from duty on Saturday, day he was apprehended by a team of policemen along with or three at Mir Bazar on national highway. DySP had applied for leave from Sunday till Thursday, y said.

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Police had carried out searches at his residence and seized two pistols and an AK rifle beside a large quantity of ammunition. Davinder Singh, whose name had been cleared for promotion as superintendent of police, is also likely to lose gallantry medal that was awarded to him last year, officials said. DySP is deemed to have been suspended after having completed 48 hours in police custody, y said quoting service rules.

On Sunday evening, his office at Srinagar airport, where he was posted as DySP in anti-hijacking unit, was sealed so that evidence could be tampered with, officials said. Davinder Singh was arrested at a checkpoint on a national highway by a team of policemen, who were following case after intelligence inputs suggested that Naveed Baba was being moved out of valley. Caught on wrong side of law, all excuses by Davinder Singh failed to enthuse police officers who effected his arrest and carried out a search at his residence in Srinagar where he had kept Naveed and his associate Altaf, a recent joinee in banned terror outfit, officials said.

Initially, he repeatedly claimed that he was trying to win confidence of terrorists to catch a 'bigger fish' but could t substantiate reasons for t following due protocol. Davinder Singh's arrest may have affected im of Jammu and Kashmir Police but former director general of police Kuldeep Khoda lauded police force for t hesitating even once in arresting ir senior officer.

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"It is J&K Police which has caught its own officer. y laid trap as y do for or terrorists and mand to arrest DySp. one can cast any doubt on police force which has been rendering service to nation especially during last 30 years of militancy in valley," Khoda said.  Ar former police chief A K Suri said though incident is an unfortunate one, what is more important that culprit has been arrested. "This is t only case. In past also some policemen were under suspicion and were arrested," he said.

During a press conference, Police said that Davinder Singh was involved in plenty of anti-terror operations, "But  situation in which he was caught yesterday, driving a militant in a vehicle to Jammu, it’s a heius crime and we are treating him same way we treat a militant," Police said. 

Hizbul Mujahideen, a pro-Pakistani terror organisation was formed in 1989 and is one of oldest armed group operating in valley. group, that is based inside Pakistan, has been designated as a terrorist group by India, US and European Union. 

Afzal Guru link

This is t first time that Davinder Singh has been in news for wrong reasons. In a letter written in 2013, Afzal Guru, who was executed after being convicted for Parliament attack, explained how "DSP Davinder Singh", n deputy superintendent of police of Special Operations Group, had asked him to "take Mohammad", a co-accused in Parliament attack case, "to Delhi, rent a flat for his stay and purchase a car for him". However, angle was probed and could t be substantiated with any evidence, officials said. Afzal Guru was hung to death in February 2013 for his role in terror operation.

entire operation was monitored by Deputy Inspector General of Police (South Kashmir) Atul Goyal who himself stood at an intersection to intercept vehicle.

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(With PTI inputs)