‘Attack conspiracy to disrupt polls’
Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Dec 14: Militants this morning martyred a security guard of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader at Natipora area of Srinagar and the Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh termed it a conspiracy to disrupt the poll process.
Militants this morning fired upon PSO of PDP leader Haji Parviaz Ahmad at Asthan Mohalla Natipora. The injured PSO Manzoor Ahmad of 11th Bn Security was evacuated to nearby hospital for the treatment where he succumbed to his injuries and attained martyrdom.
The militants fled after carrying out the attack and top security forces officials reached the spot and the area was cordoned off.
Police registered a case in this regard under relevant sections of law.
Later, a wreath laying ceremony led by DGP J&K Dilbag Singh was held at DPL Srinagar, where floral tributes were paid to the martyr.
IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar, DIG Amit Kumar, SSP Srinagar, SSP Security besides, other officers and officials and family members of the martyr also laid floral wreaths on the mortal remains and paid rich tributes to the martyr.
Hundreds of people participated in the last rites of Manzoor at Nagam in district Budgam this afternoon where he was later laid to rest.
Speaking to reporters on the occasion of wreath laying ceremony of the PSO, the DGP said that killing of the constable Manzoor is a conspiracy to disrupt the ongoing polls in Kashmir.
He said the attack was aimed to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere and ongoing DDC poll process across Kashmir valley. “Police have received inputs about number of militants involved in the attack and area where they came from. The martyred cop laid down his life in the line of duty and we are indebted to his service. Those killed him will be brought to justice soon”, he said.
The DGP said Jammu and Kashmir is currently going through an electoral exercise in which people showed their massive participation which didn’t suit to militants’ design who tried to trigger fear among masses while showing their presence.
He commended people of Kashmir for coming out in large numbers to vote. “We are going through an important exercise throughout the UT and the exercise is for the democracy at the grassroots level. The enthusiasm of people with which they are coming out and participating in elections is commendable”, he said.
The DGP said that they are providing elaborate arrangements of security but can’t provide fool proof security. “Very elaborate security arrangements have been made along the polling routes and polling places. Despite the best of arrangements that you make, you cannot put 100 per cent civil curfew where people are not allowed to move, but people have to move, they have to go. The movement has to be ensured”, he said.
“So among the larger movement of people, you have a hidden movement of anti-national elements coming to the city or coming to some other place. Yesterday only, you had an incident in Poonch where a group of terrorists of LeT was sent from Pakistan and they tried to come over to Shopian, they tried, but they could not due to heavy snowfall”, he said.
“Police and Army party tracked them down after three days operation where they were asked to surrender so that we could tell the entire world that that how Pakistan was meddling in the affairs of India and particularly J&K, but, unfortunately, they did not surrender and the fire fight started in that, they were neutralized”, he said.
Singh said that they have got enough evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in training and infiltrating militants. “We have got enough evidence which indicates that Pakistan is not only training people but is also sending them to this side to disturb the on-going process. We would bring the persons accused in this case to book very soon”, he added.
The DGP on the allegations levelled by PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on lack of security to non-BJP candidates said: “Those allegations are baseless, two PSOs were with him and one is still there an even bigger number of PSOs-in case of Wasim Bari, there were 10 PSOs, but an incident took place.”
Singh said that the PDP leader was advised to shift from his residence as it was densely populated but he didn’t give heed to advice. “Despite PSOs, such incidents can happen. The fellow was advised to leave that area because that is a densely populated area; there is a written record that he was advised to come to a more secure location. He did not heed to the advice. He was in fact de-categorized when he did not go by the security precautions and the security was withdrawn, but then a reassessment was done, the security was given to him. He regularly violated security precautions. He was X2 category entitled to one PSO but was provided two-so all the allegations are baseless”, he said.
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