'Meena Kumai arrested Sir', SSP tells Omar in teleconference

After DCs, CM takes briefing on Valley situation with SPs

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Nov 9: Hollywood buff Omar Abdullah may not have watched Kamal Amrohi's 1970s blockbuster 'Pakeeza' but a promising Bollywood director's classmate at Sanawar cannot be expected to be ignorant about Meena Kumari, who played the stellar role with Raj Kumar. Omar obviously looked confused when SSP Baramulla, Mansoor Untoo, informed him through a teleconference in the winter capital that 'Meena Kumari' was finally behind the bars.

Omar could not hide his smile when he learned next moment that it was no Bollywood actress but Baramulla's most wanted stone pelter, Pervez Ahmed Kaloo S/o Abdul Ahad Kaloo. A resident of Ganai Hamam locality of the old town Baramulla, 'Meena Kumari' was allegedly involved in most of the incidents of stone pelting and attacks on Police and public properties, including one on the Christian Missionary St Joseph School. According to reports available with Police, Meena Kumari had been arrested after his prominent involvement in the stone pelting of 2008. He had been, however, released on orders of none other than Omar Abdullah when he was sworn in as Chief Minister in January 2009.

On February 22 this year, Meena Kumari was allegedly in the forefront of the mob that had harassed commuters of a bus at Chakla including a woman who, under fear and nervousness, dropped her 11-day-old infant from her lap. This baby was the first of five persons killed in different incidents of stone pelting by unruly mobs this year. According to Police, authorities were desperately in search of the terror who had turned Baramulla into a battleground, resulting in several deaths in Police and CRPF action.

Chief Minister heaved a sigh of relief and learned more from SSP Baramulla who had little signs of nervousness on his face even as dozens of Meena Kumari's associates had immediately resorted to heavy stone pelting, attracting baton charge, tearsmoke shelling and even spraying of pellets. Unlike on scores of occasions this year, Police forced the stone pelters to disperse in minutes of retaliation but not before they completely damaged the official car of additional District Development Commissioner, Shaukat Ahmed Dar.

In a three hour long video conferencing with the district Superintendents of Police (SPs) of Kashmir division, Chief Minister in a general message to the SPs directed them to render their service to the society in the best professional manner. “You are rendering multifaceted duties on various fronts including maintenance of law and order, protection of life and property, combating militancy, dealing with untoward situations and booking culprits responsible for different crimes. This has increased pressure on you”, he said and directed the police force to make restraint and professional dealing as the benchmark of their functioning.

Omar assured them every help and support from the Government for modernizing and strengthening of J&K Police Force to develop it as one of the most competent and able police forces in the country. He said the issues of filling up of vacant posts, rationalizing the duties of police personnel and increasing its number were under active consideration of the Government.

          

 Interacting with SPs of Police districts of Kupwara, Handwara, Baramulla, Sopore, Bandipora, Pulwama, Shopian, Budgam, Anantnag, Awantipora, Kulgam, Ganderbal, Srinagar, Leh, Kargil, IG Kashmir and Additional Director General of Police turn by turn through Video Conferencing, the Chief Minister reviewed the general law and order situation in the districts in particular and of the division in general.

Chief Minister made queries regarding various issues pertaining to the general policing, maintenance of law and order, combating  militancy, holding of police-public interaction sessions, training of police personnel in mob controlling, measures in place for the security and protection of political leaders, civic action programmes and performance on the front of crime control.

Taking review of the preparedness of Police for conducting peaceful and smooth Panchayat elections in the State, the Chief Minister directed J&K Police Force to be ready in all respects for successful holding of elections to Panchayats. “You have a stupendous task to perform in this regard”, he said and appreciated their role in rendering their duties with devotion on various fronts.

On ensuing Eid festival, the Chief Minister stressed on regular market checking and stern action against hoarders and black marketers. He asked the SPs to keep constant vigil on prices of essential commodities and ensure that unscrupulous elements do not exploit general public by creating false scarcity. He said Police Department and CA&PD should work in unison to ensure supplies on reasonable and fixed prices to the people.

Each SP gave detailed account of the prevailing situation and measures in place to prevent untoward incidents and maintain law and order in his jurisdiction. They also apprised the Chief Minister of their actions regarding bringing crimes under control, maintaining rapport with general public by holding police-public meetings and initiating youth welfare programmes.

The IG Kashmir, S.M. Sahai and Additional Director General of Police, K. Rajendra gave overview of the general situation prevailing in the division. They also highlighted the issues relating to the modernizing of J&K Police Force and strengthening its rank and file.

The Advisors to the Chief Minister, Mubarak Gul and Devender Singh Rana, Director General Police, Kuldeep Khuda and Commissioner/Secretary Home, B.R. Sharma were present.

END