J&K govt orders inquiry into abuse of MLC by SHO

Jammu and Kashmir government today ordered an inquiry into the alleged abuse of a National Conference legislator by a police officer when the former raised the issue of fleecing of tourists at Pahalgam base camp for Amarnath Yatra.
As soon as the Legislative Council met this morning, opposition National Conference (NC) MLC Bashir Ahmad Veeri raised the issue of alleged fleecing of tourists by private security guards deployed by the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department at Pahalgam, base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra, in south Kashmir.
Veeri alleged the security guards were fleecing the tourists and were involved in acts of corruption.

"They are working under the supervision of the Station House Officer (SHO) concerned. When I raised the issue with the SHO, he misbehaved with me. The police officer abused me and this House as well," he claimed.
Veeri said this was not the concern of an individual member but of the whole House and demanded action against the police officer.
Chairman of the Legislative Council Anayat Ali directed Veeri to approach the Privilege Committee of the House with his complaint.

However, Veeri and some other legislators demanded that the government take action against the SHO.
State Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Basharat Bukhari, who was present in the House, termed the issue as "serious" and directed the Home Secretary to inquire into the matter.

"This is a serious issue. The Home Secretary is sitting here and he will inquire into the matter and submit a report tomorrow," Bukhari said.
Meanwhile, opposition MLCs also raised the issue of shortage of sugar at ration depots across the state, for which Minister for Rural Development Abdul Haq Khan assured them that the government will ensure that there is no shortage of sugar and ration during the holy month of Ramzan.