Asiya-Neelofar Case: Two doctors terminated for allegedly colluding with Pakistan

SRINAGAR — The Lieutenant Governor-led administration has terminated two doctors for allegedly collaborating with Pakistan and falsifying the post-mortem reports of Asiya and Neelofar who died in Shopian in 2009.

The Lieutenant Governor is satisfied after considering the facts and circumstances of the cases and on the basis of the information available, that the activities of Dr Bilal Ahmad Dalal, Medical Officer, NTPHC Takiya Imam, Shopian (Health and Medical Education Department) son of Ghulam Rasool Dalal, resident of Hergam, Shopian and Dr Nighat Shaheen Chiloo, Consultant Gynaecologist in the Sub-district Hospital, Chadoora, Budgam (Health and Medical Education Department) Daughter of G.Q. Chiloo, resident of Sanat Nagar, Srinagar is to warrant his/her dismissal from services, according to the two (separate) government orders.

The orders said that the Lieutenant Governor is satisfied under subclause (c) of the proviso to clause (2) of Article 311 of the Constitution of India that in the interest of the security of the State, it is not expedient to hold an enquiry in both the cases.

Accordingly, the Lieutenant Governor dismissed Dr Bilal Ahmad Dalal and Dr Nighat Shaheen Chiloo from services, with immediate effect.

A top official told Srinagar-based news agency KDC that the doctors played a pivotal role in “distorting the post-mortem report of Asiya and Neelofar, two unfortunate individuals from Shopian who had met an untimely demise due to accidental drowning on May 29, 2009.”

Uncovering the alleged motives behind their actions, the top official said that the ultimate goal of Dr Bilal Ahmad Dalal and Dr Nighat Shaheen was to “sow discord against the Indian state by falsely implicating the security forces in acts of rape and murder.”

He said, “Shockingly, the investigation has unveiled that the higher rank of the previous government was aware of these facts, which were deliberately concealed as the valley experienced turmoil.”

The official said the alarming nature of this revelation suggests a potential cover-up of critical information that could have influenced the course of events.

Meanwhile, a top police officer said that after the Shopian ‘conspiracy’, Kashmir valley was in flames for seven months. “The seven months of May-November 2009 witnessed 42 strike calls floated by groups like Hurriyat, which resulted in widespread rioting in the valley,” he said.

Around 600 minor and major law and order incidents were reported from all the districts of the valley, the officer said, adding that the impact of which lasted till the eruption of another turmoil in 2010.

He said that a total of 251 FIRs were registered in different police stations for rioting, stone pelting, arson etc across Kashmir. “Seven civilians lost their lives and 103 were injured during these protests.”

Additionally, 29 police personnel and six paramilitary personnel suffered injuries, he said and added that as per an estimate, ₹6000 crores worth of business was lost in those seven months.