NOVANEWS
Rajeesh | August 16, 2010 at 11:17 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/pglpM-1TT |
By Fayaz Wani
Srinagar, Aug 15: In a major embarrassment to pro-Indian government in Indian administered Kashmir, a police officer hurled a shoe towards chief minister of the region Omar Abdullah during a function of India’s Independence Day on Sunday.
The August 15 (India’s Independence Day) function was being held at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar, the summer capital of the Indian administered Kashmir, under tight security cover. As 41-year-old chief minister of the region, Omar Abdullah unfurled the Indian flag, a police officer sitting in the VIP enclosure stood up and raised pro-freedom slogans.
The police officer hurled a brown colour shoe towards the chief minister. The show, however, missed chief minister’s cap by a whisker. The police officer also hurled a black flag towards the chief minister.
The police official identified as Abdul Ahad Jan was quickly overpowered by policemen and bodyguards of the chief minister and shifted him to an unknown destination, where he is being questioned.
Embarrassed by the shoe-throwing incident, chief minister later addressing the VIPs said, “Hurling a shoe is better than hurling a stone”.
The police officer was reportedly angry over the killing of 58 Kashmiri youth in police and paramilitary soldiers firing in Kashmir since June 11 this year.
A police spokesman while referring to the incident said the police officer (Abdul Ahad Jan) was a suspended Head Constable. “He is reportedly mentally unsound and facing charges in a criminal case under FIR No:123 dated: May 21st 2010. He was arrested by Police in this case and later bailed out by the Court. He was suspended for his criminal activities on May 22, 2010,” he said.
If the police version is to be believed, then it is unclear how a suspended police official could get into the VIP gallery, a place where access is granted only on the basis of special passes issued by the security agencies.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people had taken to roads at Bandipora in North Kashmir, where from the police officer hailed, and taken processions in support of shoe-throwing police official.
