Srinagar: Investigators were Monday probing
the possibility of extra invitation cards collected by a
politician being used by the suspended policeman, who flung a
shoe at J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to gain entry
into the restricted VIP gallery.
This angle is being looked into as a high-level probe by
police and local administration tried to ascertain how the
suspended head constable Abdul Ahad Jahan managed to enter the
VIP gallery and embarrass Omar by hurling the shoe while
he was unfurling the national Tricolour at the Independence
Day function yesterday.
According to sources privy to the investigations, a
prominent MLA of opposition party had approached Divisional
Commissioner`s office for additional three VIP invitation
cards. The identity of those who had used these cards to get
into the VIP enclosure was not immediately known.
Efforts were on to procure details from the politician,
whose name was not revealed immediately, as to whom did he
hand over the three passes, the sources said.
The sources said the probe being conducted by the police
authorities showed the police apparently did not have much of
a role behind Jahan`s entry as their duties were limited to
complete body frisking and whether or not the guest was
carrying a valid invitation card.
The name on the invitation card needed to be matched
with the identity card of the visitor by the Divisional
Commissioner`s staff, a procedure which appears not to have
been done in this particular case.
As many as 15 policemen including four officers were
suspended yesterday. The policemen, four of whom were of
sub-inspector rank, faced the action pending an enquiry for lax
security arrangements which enabled the head constable to
enter the highly-secured Bakshi Stadium.
Jahan, who was in the VIP enclosure behind the rows
where Omar was taking salute from marching contingents after
unfurling the national flag, was overpowered by security men
and has been arrested.
Jahan, a resident of Ajjas in Bandipore, claimed during
interrogation that he was dropped by a zonal president of the
rival political party on his motorcycle at the Bakshi Stadium,
according to official sources.
The probe also showed that Jahan was suspended in May
this year after he was chargesheeted in two cases for being
drunk while on duty and extortion while the third case was
still under investigation.
Jahan`s son Showkat is a surrendered militant and is
facing a chargesheet for providing shelter to terrorists.
The arrested constable had also filed a case against the Jammu
and Kashmir Police in court claiming that he deserved a double
promotion. However, the case was dismissed by the court. In
both the cases, he was represented by a prominent lawyer.
Police also recovered some medical prescriptions from
Jahan`s pocket and it was suggested he may be undergoing some
psychiatric treatment.
PTI
