A major security concern has emerged at the under-construction 850 MW Ratle Hydro Electric Project in Kishtwar, with Jammu and Kashmir Police flagging the involvement of nearly three dozen workers allegedly linked to militancy or criminal activities. The revelation adds a serious new dimension to the ongoing public feud between the project's management and a local BJP legislator.
Police Letter Flags Security Risk
In a significant development, the Jammu and Kashmir Police wrote to Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) on November 1, warning about 29 individuals engaged in the project. The letter, sent by Kishtwar Senior Superintendent of Police Naresh Singh, stated that routine police verification had found these individuals "involved in subversive/anti-national activities."
The SSP's communication, addressed to the General Manager of MEIL, explicitly warned that "by engaging these employees, security of Power Project gets compromised as these individuals are having militancy links/criminal background." An enclosed list detailed the names of the 29 workers, all employed in junior positions.
Breakdown of Allegations and Company's Stance
The police verification report categorized the flagged individuals. Five were listed as having "militancy links," including relatives of a long-time militant, a son of a suspected overground worker, and a son of a surrendered militant. One person was accused of contaminating water sources and forgery, while the remaining 23 were noted as having a "criminal background" with charges like criminal trespass and mischief.
When contacted, MEIL's Chief Operating Officer for the Ratle project, Harpal Singh, confirmed receiving the police advice. He stated the company replied, assuring vigilance. However, he questioned the legal basis for retrenchment, 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 added that all 29 were recruited before he took charge in July 2024.
Political Feud Intensifies Over Project Delays
The police warning has fueled the existing controversy between MEIL and BJP Kishtwar MLA Shagun Parihar. COO Harpal Singh had previously gone public, accusing Parihar of causing a two-year delay in the Rs 3,700 crore project, slated for completion by September 2026. He alleged she had been pushing to hire "her people" since her election and that the retrenchment of 200 workers in September escalated tensions.
MLA Shagun Parihar, who has consistently raised questions about worker recruitment, said the police letter "vindicated" her allegations. She countered the COO's charges, calling them "irresponsible" and an attempt to malign her. She also questioned why MEIL retrenched 200 workers but not the 29 flagged by police.
The Ratle project, located in Drabshalla, Kishtwar, has a troubled history. Work began in 2008 but faced a major setback in 2014 when local protests forced engineers from the earlier contractor, L&T, to abandon the site. The project was later converted into a joint venture between the J&K government and the Government of India.
