Former top cop Farooq Khan appointed as Advisor to J&K Governor – Profile

Srinagar, Jul 12 (Only Kashmir): In a significant development, the central government on Friday appointed Retired IPS Farooq Khan as one of the advisors to Governor Jammu and Kashmir Sat Pal Malik.
Pertinently, Farooq Khan a former member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and currently Administrator of the Indian Union Territory of Lakshadweep has also served many key posted in Jammu and Kashmir Police Department including as Inspector General of Police and led a role in Dargah Hazratbal Operations in March 1996 in which dozens of militants belonging JKLF were killed.
It was under Khan that Raghunath Temple, Jammu was freed from militants in 2003. He has been also awarded with the President’s medals for gallantry, bravery and distinguished service.
Khan, a 1994 batch IPS officer who retired in 2013, has been also the mind behind the creation of Task Force wing of JKP. Farooq was the head of the Sher-e-Kashmir Police Academy, Udhampur.
Khan was the first Muslim from Jammu and Kashmir to get a prominent place in the BJP within 15 months of his joining the party. He had joined the BJP at an election rally in the presence of Narendra Modi, who was then the party’s prime ministerial candidate.
63-year-old Khan also had his share of controversies which included gunning down of five civilians at Pathribal in South Kashmir. After inquiries made at various levels followed by a CBI probe, Khan was given a clean chit and army officers were held responsible for the killings.
His grandfather Colonel (retired) Peer Mohammad Khan, who was in the army of Maharaja Hari Singh, was the first state president of the Jammu and Kashmir Jana Sangh.
Important to know, the governor on November 21 last year dissolved state assembly after the PDP supported by the Congress and their arch-rivals National Conference had staked claim to form the government, prior to this state was put under Governor Satyapal Malik’s rule after the Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition government was reduced to minority following withdrawal of support by the 25-member BJP in the state.