The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday faced outrage after a forest officer suspended a pheran-wearing employee for looking like a “shepherd”.

An order by the divisional forest officer of Langate in Kupwara district, issued on February 17, said he had suspended a forest guard. The order became viral on social media on Tuesday.

The suspension order touched a raw nerve and a flurry of criticism forced the officer to remove the word “shepherd” from the order.

Pheran, a loosely fitted woollen gown, is the Valley’s traditional winterwear worn by people here for ages to keep themselves warm.

“During my surprise inspection of Forest Check-post Langate on 17.02.2024 at 12:25pm, one forest official namely Bashir Ahmad Dobhi, forest guard, was found wearing pheran and looking like a shepherd,” reads the order issued by the DFO, Langate.

“The territorial forest officials are part of a disciplined force and are always duty-bound to wear proper dress code while performing their duties at sensitive postings. Therefore, pending departmental enquiry Shri Bashir Ahmad Dobhi, Forest Guard, is hereby placed under suspension attached with Range Office Rafiabad with immediate effect”.

The forest officials in Jammu and Kashmir are supposed to wear a khaki uniform, similar to policemen.

The DFO directed the range officer, Mawar, to make an internal arrangement in place of the suspended official till suitable staff is posted at the check-post.

The DFO’s mention of shepherds and linking them to the pheran in the order sparked criticism as most of them belong to the tribal Gujjar and Bakerwal communities in Kashmir.

“Langate’s Divisional Forest officer has suspended Bashir Ahmed — a forest guard — for wearing a pheran. The subsequent order smacks of prejudice towards our traditions by deriding him for ‘looking like a shepherd’. Are shepherds sub-human? Insensitive & arrogant. Hope local admin takes action immediately @manojsinha,” former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti posted on X.

“Suspending an employee for donning a pheran is deeply disrespectful and undermines one’s cultural identity. In bitterly cold weather, wearing a pheran becomes a vital necessity. Additionally, equating the attire with a shepherd’s is disrespectful and reflects classist bias,” veteran CPM leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said.