NIA court pays heed to plea; sends suspended J&K DSP Davinder Singh to Hiranagar Jail

NEW DELHI: Suspended Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Superintendent of Police Davinder Singh along with four other convicts have been sent to 15-day judicial custody by a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jammu.

Singh, who was caught while allegedly transporting two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, was sent to the Hiranagar Sub Jail in Kathua district. Four others including two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists who were arrested along with him will be lodged in Kotbalwal jail in Jammu. According to reports, Singh had pleaded before the court that he should be kept in Hiranagar Sub Jail as Kotbalwal Jail has many militants that were arrested by him, according to media reports.

In January 2020, Jammu and Kashmir police arrested Davinder Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) along with two Hizbul terrorists and one Hizbul “overground worker.” One of the militants arrested was wanted for killing migrant workers in Kashmir.

The arrests were made after police intercepted a car in Kulgam area where a barricade was put after specific input was received that Singh along with the militants were heading towards Jammu from where they would reach Delhi via Chandigarh. The militants were allegedly planning an attack on the Republic Day, and Singh was providing them a safe passage for a sum of Rs 12 lakh, according to media reports.

Singh was mentioned by Afzal Guru who was convicted in the Parliament attack in 2004. In a letter to his lawyer, he had alleged that Singh ordered him to take someone to Delhi and arrange accommodation for him. This was the man who was later shot dead during the Parliament attack, which occurred in 2001.

Singh known for carrying out successful counter-terror operations was suspended post-arrest and is currently being interrogated by officials.

The Jammu and Kashmir government stripped Singh of the Sher-e-Kashmir Police Medal following his arrest.

The withdrawal of the medal was done through an order issued by the Home Department signed by Shaleen Kabra, IAS, Principal Secretary to government, Home Department. The order said that the J&K has stripped the Sher-e-Kashmir Police Medal for Gallantry awarded to Dy SP Davinder Singh consequent to his arrest on January 11 while trying to assist terrorists to travel outside J&K and recovery of arms and ammunition “which amounts to disloyalty and conduct that has brought upon the force into disrepute”. The medal was awarded to him on August 14, 2018.

Also Read: DSP Davinder Singh case: Brother of Hizbul terrorist Naveed Babu arrested

Also Watch: AASU Activists waved Black Flag at Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika’s Convoy