NEW DELHI: Kishtwar BJP leader Jahanzaib Sirwal on Sunday questioned party MLA Shagun Parihar’s claim that announcements were made from a mosque before two SPOs were killed in Kishtwar’s Dachhan area, calling the allegation “deeply unfortunate and factually unsubstantiated”.The Islami Markaz-e-Majlis Shura Kishtwar, headed by Jamia Masjid Imam Maulana Farooq Ahmad Kichloo also rejected the MLA’s claim as baseless and demanded a public apology. The organisation said unverified allegations against religious institutions could disturb communal harmony in the sensitive district.SPOs Babi Chand, 57, and Rashpal Kumar, 45, both residents of Kishtwar, were found dead in a forest area in Dachhan early Thursday. They had gone missing a day earlier while travelling to a security post at Basnand in the adjoining Marwah tehsil.Parihar made the claim in a video recorded on the sidelines of a wreath-laying ceremony for the two slain personnel. She questioned why those responsible had not been arrested and alleged that information was being leaked from the area.“Why have those involved not been apprehended yet? Announcements were made from a mosque. Someone must be passing on information, and leaking intelligence from here. Our people are being selectively targeted and killed,” the MLA alleged, PTI reported.Objecting to the remarks, Sirwal said religious institutions should not be linked to provocative announcements or slogans without credible evidence.“As a proud member of the Muslim community, I strongly object to attempts to bring religious institutions into narratives that can create mistrust and suspicion among communities. Mosques are centres of faith, worship and spiritual guidance, and their sanctity must be respected,” he said.Sirwal also criticised a recent statement by leader of opposition in the J&K Assembly Sunil Sharma, who linked the killings to alleged attempts at the ethnic cleansing of a particular community.“Such an alarming assertion, without credible substantiation, risks creating unnecessary fear and insecurity among people. Communities in the region have been living together peacefully, and statements of this nature can undermine that trust.“Using such sensitive issues to generate political mileage and deepen communal divisions is deeply unfortunate and must be avoided,” Sirwal said.He urged public representatives to exercise caution while commenting on sensitive issues, saying sweeping allegations against religious institutions or communities could deepen divisions.“Terrorism has no religion, and violence cannot be given a religious identity. Our collective fight must be against those who perpetrate violence, not against any particular community.“Political discourse must be guided by facts, responsibility and mutual respect rather than statements that risk alienating communities,” he added.Kichloo said Kishtwar was a sensitive region and attempts to create mistrust between communities through unverified allegations were irresponsible and unacceptable.He said the organisation had always condemned terrorism and violence, including attacks on the Amarnath Yatra.“We have always condemned terrorism and every act of violence, including the attacks on the Amarnath Yatra. We have never supported any killing or act of violence, irrespective of who the victim or perpetrator may be,” Kichloo said after a meeting of the Majlis.He said the administration and security agencies were capable of investigating the incident and establishing the facts. He urged Parihar not to make statements that could disturb peace in the district.“If the MLA has concrete evidence, she should clearly identify the mosque from where the alleged announcement was made or disclose who made it. The administration and several security agencies are working on the ground. Are we to believe that none of them had any knowledge of such an incident?” Kichloo asked.
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The organisation also called for a thorough and impartial investigation and strict action against anyone found guilty.“We consider her (Perihar) our daughter and respect her. However, levelling allegations without substantiating them is neither responsible nor acceptable. She should withdraw these allegations and tender a public apology,” Kichloo said.“We do not wish to prolong or politicise this issue. Our only concern is that peace, brotherhood and communal harmony in Kishtwar must not be compromised for the sake of unverified claims,” he added.