Indian cop booked for ‘terror links’ under scanner for 2001 Delhi attack

Afzal Guru had accused Davinder Singh of torturing him and asking him to do a ‘small job’ for him

Davinder Singh, an Indian police officer who was arrested for ‘transporting Hizbul terrorists’ to capital New Delhi in Srinagar on Sunday, has also come under the scanner for his alleged links with the convict of 2001 parliament attack.

The Srinagar cop's involvement in the deadly terrorist attack was revealed by Afzal Guru, who was hanged in 2013, in a letter that he wrote to his lawyer Sushil Kumar from Tihar jail, according to The Print.

DSP Singh’s arrest appears to be a ruined “false flag” terrorist operation – something Islamabad has repeatedly warned the international community about.

The decorated cop had worked for the police for decades and was a member of an elite counter-insurgency force in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He was awarded the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry on August 15, 2019.

But years earlier he was accused of forcing a man to help "Kashmiri militants" travel to New Delhi in a deadly attack on the Indian parliament.

Five armed rebels stormed India’s parliament in New Delhi on December 13, 2001, killing eight police officers and a gardener before they were shot dead by security forces. A journalist wounded in the attack died months later.

India quickly blamed Pakistan-based militant groups for the attack, prompting a months-long military stand-off between the two hostile neighbours.

India’s ‘apparent false flag’ terror op bid falls flat

In the letter, in which Guru has referred Davinder Singh as ‘Dravinder’, the convict alleged that Singh and other officers from the IOJ&K police not only tortured him and extorted money, but also introduced him to one of the men who later attacked the Indian Parliament.

Guru also claimed that it was Singh who asked him to arrange for a car and a place to stay for the attackers. Singh’s role, however, was not investigated by authorities.

According to The Print, Guru said that he was entrapped by Special Task Force (STF) of Kashmir and was made to confess under duress.

“In the parliament attack case I was entrapped by Special Task Force of Kashmir. Here in Delhi the designated court sentenced me to death on the basis of special police version which works in nexus with STF, and also came under the influence of mass media in which I was made to accept the crime under duress and threat by special police official,” he wrote.

“Throughout the trial I remained mute and helpless spectator as witnesses, police and even judge they all became a single force against me. I remained frustrated, bewildered and confused between the security and safety of myself and my family. I protected and saved my family. That is how I am lying in death row.

“One day at 10am, I was whisked away by STF men in bullet proof gypsy to Paihallan camp, where the officers tortured me, electrified me — put me in cold water — used petrol-chilies and other techniques. They told me that I possess weapons but at evening time one of the inspectors told me to pay Rs1000,000 to him (DSP) in order to get released otherwise they will kill me,” Guru shared his ordeal in the letter.

“Then they took me to Humhama STF camp where DSP Dravinder [Davinder] Singh also tortured me. One of his torture inspectors as they called him Shanty Singh electrified me naked for three hours and made me drink water while giving electric shocks through telephone instrument. Ultimately I accepted to pay them Rs1000, 000 for which my family sold the gold of my wife.”

Guru said he was introduced to Singh by an acquaintance and since he was an STF man, he was compelled to abide when he asked him to do a “small job” for him. “Singh asked me to took one man to Delhi as I was well aware about Delhi and has to manage a rented house for him. Since I did not know the man but I suspected that this man was not Kashmiri as he did not speak in Kashmiri but I was helpless to do what Dravinder told me. I took him to Delhi.

“One day he (Singh) told me that he wants to purchase a car. Thus I went with him to Karol Bagh. He purchased the car. Then in Delhi he used to meet different persons and both of us he Mohammad and me used to get the different phone calls from Dravinder Singh. One day Mohammad told me that if he wants to go back to Kashmir he can. He also gave me Rs35,000 and told me that this gift is for you.”

The original story appeared on The Print