Sarpanch shown as poster boy of democracy remains in detention

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Kripalpora (Pattan), Oct 23

As Jammu & Kashmir is gearing for the Block Development Council polls, Imran Dar, a 33-year-old sarpanch, who was shown as a poster boy of grass-roots democracy, was declared “anti-national” and booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA). Dar was shifted to the Naini jail in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Dar, general secretary of youth wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was arrested during the wee hours on August 5 when the Central Government abrogated Article 370.

Ironically, Dar had a brief stint in the BJP as well and served as a district youth president of Baramulla.

“We were told that he was being taken into preventive custody. The fact is that they cheated us. He was booked under the PSA and taken to Allahabad,” said Kulsuma, Dar’s mother.

Dar contested elections at a time when militants had asked people to stay away or face consequences. However, the 33-year-old showed exemplary courage and contested the polls. Not just he became the sarpanch, his 12 associates became panches.

“He is Indian by conviction. He joined mainstream politics when time and situation was not favourable. He stood his ground and worked hard for the downtrodden. He had joined the BJP and worked hard for the party. Later, he realised that Kashmiri people do not like the BJP,” said Bashir Ahmad Gillo, a panch and close associate of Dar.

“You at every available opportunity exhort the general public to raise a voice against the government duly established by law. You are reported to have stressed the general public to continue the secessionist activities and arousing anti-India sentiments in them, which pose major threat to the maintenance of public order…You have been indulging in an anti-national/anti-social activities in order to disturb peaceful atmosphere in Tehsil Pattan so that situation gets worsens,” read Dar’s PSA dossier signed by the District Magistrate, Baramulla.

J&K Chief Electoral Officer Shalindra Kumar said two panchayat members were in detention. “They were supposed to move an application for participating or contesting in the polls, but there has been no request from their end,” said Kumar.