SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has suspended its Pulwama district president, Er Syed Showkat Gayoor Andrabi, following registration of an FIR alleging extortion, intimidation and obstruction of authorised work against him.
According to a suspension order issued on Tuesday by BJP J&K General Secretary Mohammad Anwar Khan, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against Gayoor on the recommendation of the party’s Disciplinary Committee chairman, Advocate Sunil Sethi, and in consultation with J&K BJP president Sat Sharma.
“Pending finalisation of the disciplinary proceedings,” Gayoor has been suspended from all organisational posts and responsibilities of the BJP, including the post of district president, Pulwama, with immediate effect, the order said.
The action follows an FIR registered at Police Station Pulwama after a complaint by a contractor, who alleged that Gayoor repeatedly obstructed authorised soil extraction and transportation work and demanded money to allow the work to continue. The complaint also alleged threats of invoking the Public Safety Act against the workers.
Police have registered the case under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to wrongful restraint, extortion, attempted extortion, criminal intimidation and intentional insult, and an Assistant Sub-Inspector-rank officer has been assigned the investigation, according to the FIR details reported on Tuesday.
Who is Showkat Gayoor?
Gayoor has been a prominent BJP face in South Kashmir. The BJP’s official J&K website currently lists Er Syed Showkat Gayoor Andrabi as its Pulwama district president.
He contested the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections from the Pampore constituency as a BJP candidate. Contemporary reports noted that he had joined the BJP only a few months before the election and his candidature generated discussion within the party’s South Kashmir unit.
He subsequently continued to hold a key organisational position in Pulwama and was involved in BJP programmes and organisational activities in the district. In June this year, he participated in a BJP district-level training programme in Pulwama alongside senior party leaders Sat Sharma and Ashok Koul.
The latest development marks a significant setback for the BJP leader, who had remained active in expanding the party’s organisational presence in Pulwama.
The suspension order said the party was committed to maintaining “the highest standards of discipline, integrity and morality in public life”.
Importantly, the allegations against Gayoor are part of an FIR and disciplinary proceedings are still pending; the allegations have not been established by a court.
