Minister's Guard assault Traffic Police Officer
SRINAGAR; 10, Sep 2012: Two security guards of a State minister allegedly assaulted a traffic sub-inspector when he stopped them while violating traffic signal in Srinagar this evening.
According to reports, the escort of Minister for PHE and senior Congress leader, Taj Mohi-ud-din was heading towards the minister's Gupkar residence when the traffic police officer was allegedly assaulted. ‘As soon as the cavalcade reached at the traffic signal, situated at Tourist Reception Centre (TRC), they crossed the road even though the signal was red and dozens of private vehicles were waiting for the green signal. One of the Jammu and Kashmir Traffic police officer, present on duty stopped the cavalcade for breaking the traffic rules but the security men hit him (police officer) with rifle butts and beat him to pulp,” an eyewitness was quoted by a local news wire.
The Traffic police officer identified as Sub-Inspector, Mohan Lal was shifted to nearby hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, after assaulting the police officer the security personnel fled the spot leaving spectators fumed.
“It is sheer hooliganism. Look they even didn’t spare their own companion, how you can expect that these men in khaki will protect people. It is a police state and this incident proved that a common man is not safe here,” Hilal Ahmed, present on spot told to KMR.
When contacted, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Traffic Police, Shafkat Watali said that the department is not going to spare these law breakers.”We will give exemplary punishment to these offenders. They have assaulted our officer and they will face the music,” he said, adding, "such acts can’t be condoned".
Watali further said that an FIR has been lodged against these offenders and a manhunt has been launched to trace them. When asked that offenders having affiliation with big guns freely bypass the law, he said that this time it will not happen. “I assure you that the culprits will be brought to book. It should set an example for the other policemen who in the garb of uniform break laws,” he said.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Traffic Police, Shafkat Watali however refused to comment which VIP they (offenders) they were accompanying. “We are not concerned with that. Our Job is to book offenders who were involved in this heinous act," Watali said.
Superintendent of Traffic Police, Srinagar city, Haseeb-ur-Rehman told KMR such acts leave a bad impression among people. He said that men in Khaki must respect law and law will respect them.
“We are aghast and puzzled. When Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah have no objection in following traffic rules, how come these men can violate the law.” Rehman said and added that strict action will be taken against the offenders.
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Traffic department recently installed traffic lights at certain busy intersections in the city but many people, mostly bureaucrats and politicians have failed to pay any heed to the new signals.
Watali informed later that two offenders have been arrested just now and lodged in Khoti Bagh Police Station. “Police department has taken this matter very seriously and both have been arrested,” he said.
A top police officer from Khoti Bagh Police Station identified these two arrested policemen as Mohammad Shafi (372 security) and Mohammad Abbas (219, 3rd Batallion, security).
According to reports, the escort of Minister for PHE and senior Congress leader, Taj Mohi-ud-din was heading towards the minister's Gupkar residence when the traffic police officer was allegedly assaulted. ‘As soon as the cavalcade reached at the traffic signal, situated at Tourist Reception Centre (TRC), they crossed the road even though the signal was red and dozens of private vehicles were waiting for the green signal. One of the Jammu and Kashmir Traffic police officer, present on duty stopped the cavalcade for breaking the traffic rules but the security men hit him (police officer) with rifle butts and beat him to pulp,” an eyewitness was quoted by a local news wire.
The Traffic police officer identified as Sub-Inspector, Mohan Lal was shifted to nearby hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, after assaulting the police officer the security personnel fled the spot leaving spectators fumed.
“It is sheer hooliganism. Look they even didn’t spare their own companion, how you can expect that these men in khaki will protect people. It is a police state and this incident proved that a common man is not safe here,” Hilal Ahmed, present on spot told to KMR.
When contacted, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Traffic Police, Shafkat Watali said that the department is not going to spare these law breakers.”We will give exemplary punishment to these offenders. They have assaulted our officer and they will face the music,” he said, adding, "such acts can’t be condoned".
Watali further said that an FIR has been lodged against these offenders and a manhunt has been launched to trace them. When asked that offenders having affiliation with big guns freely bypass the law, he said that this time it will not happen. “I assure you that the culprits will be brought to book. It should set an example for the other policemen who in the garb of uniform break laws,” he said.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Traffic Police, Shafkat Watali however refused to comment which VIP they (offenders) they were accompanying. “We are not concerned with that. Our Job is to book offenders who were involved in this heinous act," Watali said.
Superintendent of Traffic Police, Srinagar city, Haseeb-ur-Rehman told KMR such acts leave a bad impression among people. He said that men in Khaki must respect law and law will respect them.
“We are aghast and puzzled. When Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah have no objection in following traffic rules, how come these men can violate the law.” Rehman said and added that strict action will be taken against the offenders.
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Traffic department recently installed traffic lights at certain busy intersections in the city but many people, mostly bureaucrats and politicians have failed to pay any heed to the new signals.
Watali informed later that two offenders have been arrested just now and lodged in Khoti Bagh Police Station. “Police department has taken this matter very seriously and both have been arrested,” he said.
A top police officer from Khoti Bagh Police Station identified these two arrested policemen as Mohammad Shafi (372 security) and Mohammad Abbas (219, 3rd Batallion, security).
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