Farooq Khan, a 1994 batch IPS officer who retired in 2013 and is presently serving as administrator of union territory Lakshadweep, is likely to be appointed as advisor to Governor Satya Pal Malik.
“The process to appoint him in his home state is at the last stage. Hopefully an announcement will be made in coming days,” a top source in union home ministry told Brighter Kashmir.
“If it is true, a necessary antidote to supercilious bureaucrats: Farooq Khan to be appointed as Advisor to Governor JK,” Amitabh Mattoo, who served as advisor to former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, wrote on Twitter. He later deleted the tweet.
Khan, who joined the Hindu rightwing party ahead of the 2014 Lo Sabha elections and was given key positions, including the charge of the party’s minority cell and North East Affairs, will be the second Kashmiri advisor to Malik.
Sources said the appointment of Khan, who retired in 2013, is also aimed at sending a “positive message” to the people of Kashmir that they have equal representation in the administration of Governor Malik who has four advisors including K Vijay Kumar, Khursheed Ganai, SS Sharma and S Skandan.
Only Ganai hails from Kashmir while the other three advisors belong to different parts of the country.
Khan, who was J&K BJP’s spokesperson, has served as Inspector General of Police in Jammu and Kashmir. He is credited for playing an influential role in ending the siege at the Hazratbal Shrine in March 1996.
Khan landed in controversy when he was suspended for two years in 2003 for his alleged role in Pathribal fake encounter. However, a CBI probe absolved him of the charges and he was reinstated.
The probe into Pathribal fake encounter had blamed six army officers for abducting civilians, killing them in cold blood and later passing them off as militants for cash rewards and out of turn promotions.
According to well-placed police sources, Khan ha also played an important role in the creation of counter-insurgency Special Operations Groups which was earlier known as ‘Task Force’ of Jammu and Kashmir Police.
He has also headed the Sher-e-Kashmir Police Academy, Udhampur. He has been also awarded with the President's medals for gallantry, bravery and distinguished service.
A Dogri-speaking Punjabi Muslim, his grandfather, Colonel Peer Mohammad, was the first state president of the Jammu and Kashmir Jana Sangh, according to Wikipedia.
“Colonel Peer Mohammadod was in Hari Singh’s army who had a major contribution in the 1947 happenings in Jammu,” the Wikipedia page on Khan says.