3 weeks ago
BJP Suspends Pulwama District President Over Extortion FIR
A political party in India called the BJP has a branch in Jammu and Kashmir.
The person in charge of the district called Pulwama is named Er.
Syed Showkat Gayoor Andrabi.
Police filed a complaint against him saying he tried to scare a builder named Mohammad Yaseen Ganie.
The builder said Andrabi asked for money and threatened him.
He also allegedly threatened to have the builder sent to jail using a special law called the Public Safety Act.
The party's leaders decided to pause his job while they check these accusations.
This means he cannot do any party work for now.
The party says it wants to keep high standards of discipline and honesty.
Separately, the same party office had earlier suspended nine workers after a rally with rude slogans about women.
Those workers apologized, but said the suspension was because of an internal fight.
BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit suspended Pulwama district president Er. Syed Showkat Gayoor Andrabi after police registered an FIR against him for alleged extortion and criminal intimidation.
The FIR was filed late Monday night at the Newa police post in Pulwama following a complaint by contractor Mohammad Yaseen Ganie.
Ganie alleged Andrabi harassed him, made illegal demands, obstructed work for the Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Barthana, and threatened to have him detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
The suspension was ordered on the recommendation of disciplinary committee chairman Sunil Sethi, in consultation with J&K BJP president Sat Sharma and general secretary Mohammad Anwar Khan.
Separately, the J&K BJP unit had suspended nine local functionaries on August 7, 2026, over an unauthorised Anantnag rally featuring anti-women slogans linked to the abrogation of Article 370.
- Who
- BJP Jammu and Kashmir suspended its Pulwama district president, Er. Syed Showkat Gayoor Andrabi, after contractor Mohammad Yaseen Ganie lodged a complaint against him.
- What
- Andrabi was suspended from all organisational posts pending an inquiry into an FIR alleging extortion and criminal intimidation.
- Where
- Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir; the FIR was lodged at the Newa police post, and the earlier unauthorised rally took place in Anantnag.
- When
- The FIR was filed late Monday night and the suspension was announced on Tuesday; nine other functionaries had been suspended on August 7, 2026.
- Why
- The BJP said it maintains a zero-tolerance approach toward allegations that compromise organisational credibility; Ganie accused Andrabi of extortion, harassment, obstruction and threats.
Discipline and accountability
Internal party dispute
Anantnag rally suspensions
Discipline and accountability
The BJP says the August 5 procession was neither authorised nor organised by the party unit, and that suspending the nine functionaries upholds its standards after objectionable 'anti-women' slogans about Article 370's abrogation.
Internal party dispute
The suspended members publicly apologised but claimed their suspension was part of an internal party dispute after they raised corruption complaints against the party's local leadership.
Anti-women slogans criticism
Discipline and accountability
Mainstream political parties in the Valley called the slogans an insult to the dignity of Kashmiri women, and National Conference leaders demanded formal police FIRs against the individuals involved.
Internal party dispute
BJP leaders including Ashok Koul and Altaf Thakur publicly distanced the organisation from the remarks, saying the procession was not authorised or organised by the Union Territory's party unit.
Key facts
- Suspended official
- Er. Syed Showkat Gayoor Andrabi
- Position
- District President, BJP Pulwama
- Allegation
- Extortion and criminal intimidation
- Complainant
- Contractor Mohammad Yaseen Ganie
- FIR location
- Newa police post, Pulwama
- Action taken
- Suspension pending disciplinary inquiry
- Disciplinary committee chairman
- Sunil Sethi
- Related action
- Nine BJP functionaries suspended Aug 7, 2026, over Anantnag rally
Sources
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