Srinagar, Oct 29, KNT: The Kashmiri Pandit Sangarash Samiti (KPSS) has called for an impartial investigation into allegations of online targeting, harassment and threats involving PM Package employees, days after the arrest of Rakesh Handoo in connection with a case registered by Baramulla Police.
In a press release issued on Thursday, KPSS President Sanjay K. Tickoo cautioned against presenting allegations as established facts before the completion of a fair investigation, stressing that no individual should be declared guilty through media narratives or social media campaigns.
Handoo was arrested in Faridabad, Haryana, in connection with allegations involving the circulation of threat-related digital material targeting a PM Package employee. Police have been investigating the matter, including the digital evidence linked to the case. The allegations remain subject to investigation, and Handoo has not been convicted.
Without directly addressing the specific allegations against Handoo in its statement, KPSS said the controversy should not divert attention from the wider security concerns of the Kashmiri Pandit community in the Valley.
The organisation questioned whether the focus on an individual was allowing the police and administration to avoid scrutiny of their responsibility to identify, investigate and prevent threats against the community.
It said the security concerns of PM Package employees must be taken seriously and called for credible threats, including any suspected links to terrorist organisations or their support networks, to be investigated through reliable intelligence and admissible evidence.
KPSS also called for scrutiny of possible shortcomings in threat assessment, intelligence coordination and protective arrangements, while cautioning against attributing responsibility without independently verified evidence.
The organisation urged media outlets to distinguish allegations from established facts, avoid sensational reporting and correct demonstrably inaccurate accounts. It said the legal rights, dignity and reputation of all individuals involved must be respected.
The statement further called upon community organisations to act independently, raise questions about institutional shortcomings and prioritise collective security over individual disputes and factional considerations.
KPSS said its appeal was not intended to defend any individual irrespective of the evidence or dismiss the concerns of a complainant, but to seek fairness, accountability and a comprehensive examination of the facts. [KNT]
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