Rising Kashmir, Daily Newspaper, Srinagar Jammu and Kashmir - Police admits laxity in counter insurgency
Wasim Khalid
Srinagar, Sep 13: Disappointed over the security breach by militants, the Deputy Inspector General of Police Central Kashmir Sunday pulled up the police officers in a meeting here for stopping work on the militancy front in Srinagar.
A senior police official, wishing anonymity, told Rising Kashmir that early morning DIG Central Kashmir H K Lohia convened a meeting of all Station House Officers (SHOs), Sub-Divisional Police Officers (SDPOs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) of Srinagar to discuss the security breach in Saturdays car bombing near Central Jail, Srinagar.
Three cops and a woman were killed and 15 others mostly policemen were injured in the powerful explosion, that completely damaged a police vehicle.
The first thing he observed was police have stopped working against militants for past sometime, said the police official, who was present in the meeting.
The visibly angry Lohia, according to the official, sought reasons from SHOS and other police officers about their laxity in fighting militancy. How has a car filled with explosives reached the central Jail, Rainawari. The explosives-laden car was able to pass through almost 21 police stations, Lohia told officers.
Expressing displeasure over the working of district police, Lohia stressed on SHOs and other officials present in the meeting to gear up their men and intensify checking and patrolling.
DIG told us to increase frisking of suspected persons and vehicles, lay ambushes for militants and setting up of nakas to counter militant threats, the official said.
When contacted DIG confirmed that he had convened a meeting of officers to review the security situation in central Kashmir. We discussed issues pertaining to blast and I briefed them about the investigations, Lohia told Rising Kashmir.
He said the meeting was held after wreath ceremony of the policemen killed in car bomb was over.
However, he refrained from divulging details about the meeting.
On Investigations
Lohia said they have launched investigations into yesterdays car explosion in Srinagar.
Asked whether the explosives laden car entering deep into city can be termed as security breach, DIG said, One lakh vehicles come and leave Srinagar on daily basis. It becomes difficult to check each and every vehicle.
He said they have activated their intelligence grid to track down the culprits. This year, it is perhaps the biggest incident in Srinagar. We are looking at it seriously.
Asserting that militancy has not ended in the State, Lohia said, Whenever they get a chance, they attack troops and police.
Accusing Pakistan of fomenting the trouble in Jammu and Kashmir, he said, After seeing that stone pelting has stopped in Valley, they intensified the militant activities.
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Rising Kashmir, Daily Newspaper, Srinagar Jammu and Kashmir - She braved life but death came too sudden
Hakeem Irfan
Srinagar, Sep 13: Gloom had descended on the entire neighborhood. Intermittent screams emanating from the windows of the two-storeyed old house which had been painted red to give a facelift. Brave heart Khadija lived here along with her four children.
Khadija was killed in an IED blast Saturday evening, few hundred meters from her home at Khwaja Yarbal. Her sons Yaseen (30) and Afaq (27) were struggling to control their tears.
Allah took her back. Nobody could change the destiny. I wish she could have lived to be part the marriage of her three children, said Afaq, working as mechanic in a local workshop.
The body of Khadija lay in the Police Control Room Srinagar for the whole night and was handed over to the family Sunday morning.
Breaking the lull, Yaseen sighed, She wished me luck morning when I left for the daily routine, only to never see her again. I should have stayed at home.
Khadija was returning from the shrine of Makhdoom Sahib after offering 'Asar' prayers when she was fell victim to the disastrous blast and lost her life. She would always get Tabaruk for us from shrine, Yaseen recalled.
According to the relatives, Khadija had brought up her four children working day in and out. Her husband Abdul Rehman Anchari had left her in year 1993.
The conversation was broken with the scream of Khadijas younger daughter Rehana who will put mehandi on my hands. Who shall I share my secrets with.
Hanifa, another daughter of Khadija, is married. Abdul Rehman Bulla, brother of Khadija who helped the family though thick and thin, chipped in. Her body was charred. I could hardly bear to look at it. I recognized only her teeth. But she is a martyr. She will have a place in heaven.
Diabetic and an arthritis patient, Khadija was seen as a resilient and caring woman by the neighbors. We have lost a good neighbor. She has lived here from her childhood and we cannot forget her easily, said neighbor Kulsum.
The blast site bore testimony to the gory face of death; also the sandals of Khadija that still lay there stained with blood. Move over security personnel and men, women and children were now inspecting the blast site and giving respective remarks and judgments about the incident.
Nobody other than the Tehsildar had visited the family and recorded the names and other necessary information.
