The killing of two Special Police Officers in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir has taken a political turn following controversial statements made by Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Shagun Parihar. Initially, the legislator alleged that before the two SPOs were targeted, announcements carrying threats were made through a local mosque loudspeaker, and vital information regarding their daily movements was leaked to terrorists.
As the controversy escalated following her remarks, Shagun Parihar clarified that religious places are strictly meant for worship and prayers, asserting that it is entirely wrong for such provocative statements to emanate from these locations. Strongly condemning the incident, she has demanded a comprehensive inquiry to uncover all the facts surrounding the tragedy.
Raising further questions, the BJP MLA asked about the identities of the individuals present inside the mosque during the meeting and under whose supervision these discussions took place. She lamented that immediately following that gathering, two families were devastated by the loss of their loved ones.
Drawing parallels with past incidents in the region, Parihar referenced historical threats and announcements made against Kashmiri Pandits in the Kashmir valley. While maintaining that she respects all religions, she reiterated that no religious institution should ever be used to generate such alarming messaging. She emphasized that this is the India of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pointing to decisive actions like Operation Sindoor, and declared that nobody can intimidate them with such threats today.
The backdrop to this political row involves the gruesome discovery of bullet-riddled bodies of two SPOs, Rashpal Kumar and Babi Chand, in the remote Dachhan area of Kishtwar. The murder itself created deep shockwaves, and the subsequent allegations concerning mosque loudspeakers and local informants have intensified the gravity of the ongoing police investigation.
