Excelsior Correspondent
Another of our brave hearts has made the supreme sacrifice at Bandipora while chasing a top terrorist Commander. Sub Inspector Altaf Ahmed travelled with his team all the way from Srinagar at the call of his duty never to return. Altaf was an exceptional professional, intelligent and brave, a rare combination indeed. He was one of our brightest stars in the long saga of bravery and sacrifices made by the members of Jammu and Kashmir Police for bringing peace to the state and maintaining the integrity of India.
SSP Jammu Uttam Chand paying tributes to the martyr said, “J&K Police stands poorer today. His contribution will be counted as a defining one in breaking the backbone of militancy”. “Although we will not have another Altaf, his sacrifice only strengthens our resolve in our fight against terror as he leaves behind a little bit of his commitment in each one of us to complete the unfinished task,” added Uttam with whom Altaf worked in Srinagar.
Altaf was techno savvy and made successful use of technology in policing and anti terrorist operations. “The first call data record he tracked was of the 2005 Tulsi Bagh encounter”, recalls senior IPS Officer S.P.Pani. And then on there was no looking back. Altaf’s laptop became mightier than the Kalashnikov. Altaf who started his career in the Munshiyat of Police Station Batmaloo rose to be the master of tech-ops while working with successive SsP (South) Srinagar. What was remarkable was his ability to don two hats at one time- collect actionable intelligence and carry out field operations too. That is what took him from Srinagar to Bandipora on that fateful day. But he tamed death and died a Hero.
“Altaf was a self appointed warrior”, says former IGP Farooq Ahmed expressing his gratitude to Altaf and other brave hearts who laid down their lives for the country. “His role and achievements will always be a high part of a saga of bravery,” said former DGP Gopal Sharma adding, “It is commitment of Policemen like Altaf who overcame their fears for their loved ones and their own life, and bring laurels to the force and its leadership”. Former DGP Kuldeep Khoda offering his condolences describes him as “an outstanding intelligence cum operational policeman who played a key role in a decisive operation during 2010 crisis”. “Deeply humbled and inspired by the martyrdom- strengthens and unifies the resolve to carry forward the good work of brave Altaf”, wrote former Punjab DGP P.S.Gill in a post expressing his condolences.
Altaf you richly deserve all this and much more. The entire J&K Police is with your family and loved ones. You have done your job. It is for the rest of us to carry forward the mantle and look after your family. But you leave behind a legacy of very high standards of patriotism. It will not be easy to emulate them.
It was an excellent gesture on the part of Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to join the DGP and top police brass in paying floral tributes on his mortal remains. It was a befitting tribute to one of our finest Ambassadors. As he lay draped in the tricolor there was an aura of solemnity. Silence all around as the last post was sounded. But my dear friend, Altafs don’t die. Your deeds have made you immortal. We are all proud of you. Rest in Peace.
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