Srinagar: At least three out of 29 employees red-flagged by the J&K police as “subversive/anti-national” elements in a letter to the Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) – which is executing the Ratle power project in Kishtwar – have been associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), The Wire can confirm. Some of these employees have been photographed with saffron party leaders including Kishtwar legislator Shagun Parrihar, who has been accused by the MEIL of sabotaging the 850-MW run-of-the-river power project in Drabshalla area of Kishtwar. J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah has also blamed Parrihar as well as Leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma of “meddling” in the power projects that have been fast-tracked by the BJP-led Union government after the reading down of Article 370.The BJP leaders have denied the charges. Asif Hussain, who was appointed BJP Drabshalla general secretary, and Kashif Ali, Drabshalla’s minority mandal president, with BJP legislator Shagun Parrihar. Asif (in black jacket) figures as one of the “subversive/anti-national” individuals in the SSP Kishtwar’s letter. Photo: Author provided.Parrihar has claimed that the letter by senior superintendent of police (Kishtwar) on November 1, which identified 29 MEIL employees as “subversive/anti-national” individuals, vindicated her party’s stand that the multi-billion rupee power project was under threat from terrorists and Pakistan.The SSP’s letter urged the Hyderabad-based MEIL to reconsider the employment of these 29 employees, all residents of Kishtwar, noting that they could “compromise” the security of the national project.The MEIL’s Ratle project head Harpal Singh wrote back to the police on December 16 with the assurance that these employees were “under close watch” and “any anti-national/anti-project activities” would be “promptly reported” to the police.Documents in the possession of The Wire show that some of these employees were appointed to key positions in the BJP’s Drabshalla unit on March 8 this year.Who is named in the letter?Jeewan Lal Thakur, who figures on serial number 20 in the SSP’s letter, was appointed as the ‘mandal president’ of Drabshalla unit while Asif Hussain, who figures on serial number 12, was appointed as its general secretary. Their induction into the party was announced in a letter signed by Thakur on March 8 this year. It was not immediately known whether they continue to be associated with the party. The Wire is in possession of photographs which show Hussain with Parrihar.Shahzad Hussain who figures on serial number two in the SSP letter serves as the saffron party’s booth president of Tanda in Kishtwar’s Saroor village. Photo: Author provided.Shahzad Hussain, who figures on serial number two, is a member of the BJP with the registration code ****3419. He serves as the saffron party’s booth president of Tanda in Kishtwar’s Saroor village. The family of Tanveer Ahmad, who figures on serial number 16, is also associated with the BJP. His brother, Safdar Ali, is a BJP activist who has also been seen with the Kishtwar MLA during her public outreach programs. BJP activist Safdar Ali, brother of Tanveer Ahmad who figures on serial number 16 in the SSP’s letter. Photo: Author provided.According to sources, Kashif Ali, who figures on serial number eight in the letter, has also worked as minority mandal president of Drabshalla while Rangeel Singh, who figures on serial number four, is also a saffron party worker.Three Ratle employees named in the SSP’s letter are relatives of Mohd Amin alias Jahangir Saroori, a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander active in Kishtwar. They have been identified as Amin’s brother Mohd Iqbal, his nephew Tanveer Ahmad and Amin’s cousin Shamash Din. Ahmad is listed as an OGW (overground worker of militants) in the Special Branch of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) records.BJP’s Kishtwar leaders have accused the MEIL of employing people with links to terrorism and Pakistan at the Ratle project. However, Parrihar, who is the youngest legislator of J&K, is also believed to have wooed the family of Saroori ahead of the assembly election last year. Saroori has been active in Kishtwar since 1992. Despite repeated attempts, Parrihar could not be reached for comment. This story would be updated when a response is received. BJP’s Kishtwar legislator Parrihar receiving a flower bouquet from a nephew of Jehangir Saroori, a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander active in Kishtwar since 1992. Photo: Author provided.The other two employees at the Ratle project with alleged militancy-links have been identified as Chandi Mohd, a resident of Kishtwar’s Phagumar, whose father Mohd Israyal is listed as an “OGW” and Md Nair, a resident of Drabshalla whose father Ab Kalam Matto is a ‘surrendered militant’ according to the letter. The letter doesn’t mention if these five Ratle employees have been named in any FIR and its present status.The police letter mentions three FIRs filed for petty offences like rash driving, house-trespass, mischief and others to invoke serious charges of ‘anti-nationalism’ and ‘subversion’ against 24 out of 29 employees of the Ratle project.The letter shows that 22 employees have been named in a single FIR (No 92) filed under sections 329 (criminal trespass and house-trespass), 324 (mischief) and 331 (house trespass) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) earlier this year by the Kishtwar police.Official documents show that the case was filed after the MEIL wrote to the police on April 25 this year, blaming these employees for their alleged involvement in breaking the lock of a geological instrument store at the project site in Drabshalla and “capturing the room by applying their own lock”.Sources said that a protest was organised by the Ratle project workers on April 25 which led to the filing of the FIR.The SSP’s letter also seeks to justify the “subversive/anti-national” tag against two other employees of the Ratle projects – Mohd Shafi and Dimple Kumar – for the alleged involvement in separate cases under sections 279 (fouling water of public spring or reservoir) and 337 (forgery) of the BNS. While Shafi figures on serial number five in the letter, Kumar is on serial number 10. All the three cases are either sub-judice or under trial.Thakur, who figures on serial number 20 in the letter and works as the president of Bhawan Nirman Mazdoor Sangathan’s Ratle power project union, said that the accusations against the employees were “politically motivated”.“We will help the security agencies and Kishtwar police if there are attempts to undermine this national project. Local political leaders should work for the empowerment of poor people of Kishtwar instead of playing politics,” Thakur said, while seeking the intervention of lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha and the district administration to defuse the situation.