A major security concern has emerged at the under-construction 850 MW Ratle Hydro Electric Project in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district. The Jammu and Kashmir Police last month flagged the engagement of 29 individuals with alleged militant links or criminal backgrounds at the strategic site, adding a new dimension to an ongoing public feud between the project's management and a local BJP legislator.
Police Letter Flags Security Risk
In a letter dated November 1, 2025, addressed to the General Manager of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), Kishtwar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Naresh Singh raised a serious alarm. The communication stated that routine police verification of Kishtwar residents working on the project in Drabshalla area had revealed that 29 employees were "found involved in subversive/anti-national activities."
The SSP warned that by engaging these individuals, the security of the power project was compromised as they had "militancy links/criminal background." Enclosing a list of names, the police official underlined that hydro-electric projects are high-risk targets and urged the company to reconsider their employment.
Breakdown of Allegations and MLA's Reaction
Of the 29 individuals, all in junior positions, the police report categorised five as having direct "militancy links." This list includes three relatives of a long-time militant from the area, the son of a suspected overground worker, and the son of a surrendered militant. One person is accused of contaminating water sources and forgery, while the remaining 23 are listed as having a "criminal background" with charges like criminal trespass and mischief.
BJP Kishtwar MLA Shagun Parihar, who has repeatedly raised questions about the hiring practices at the Ratle project, stated that the police letter completely vindicated her allegations. "It is rather I who has been raising this issue," she told The Indian Express. She questioned why MEIL had retrenched nearly 200 other workers earlier this month but had not taken action against the 29 individuals named by the police.
Project COO's Defence and Counter-Allegations
MEIL's Chief Operating Officer for the Ratle project, Harpal Singh, confirmed receiving the police advice and stated the company replied, assuring vigilance. However, he defended the company's position, asking, "Under what law can we take action against them? If someone’s father or relative is an active or surrendered militant, then what is one’s offence?" He argued that retrenching them could lead to legal challenges.
Harpal Singh, who took charge in July 2024, claimed all 29 were recruited before his tenure. He escalated the conflict by publicly blaming MLA Shagun Parihar for causing a two-year delay in the Rs 3,700 crore project, slated for completion by September 2026. He alleged that since her election last year, the MLA has been pressuring the company to hire "her people," and that nearly 50% of the local recruits either lack skills or refuse to work.
In response, Parihar dismissed the COO's charges as "irresponsible" and "irrelevant," meant to malign her as a woman MLA and hide the company's incompetence. She had earlier accused him of trying to foster communal tension and favouring recruits with questionable backgrounds.
Background of the Troubled Project
The Ratle Hydel Power Project has a long and troubled history. Work began in 2008 under the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation. After contracts with GVK and L&T, the project faced major local opposition, culminating in 2014 when a mob forced L&T engineers to abandon the site. The project was subsequently converted into a joint venture between the J&K government and the Government of India, with MEIL now as the contractor. The latest controversy over worker recruitment and security adds another layer of complexity to this crucial infrastructure project in a sensitive region.
