Srinagar: In an open display of muscle power, son of powerful opposition party leader today beat an Assistant Sub Inspector, for trying to stop him after later jumped the traffic signal.
Eyewitnesses said that the incident happened when Assistant Sub Inspector Abdul Rehman Negoo tried to stop a car at the regal chowk crossing in Lalchowk, “Someone came down from the car and said who is this stupid old man who dared to stop me and used foul language. Does he not know who I am?” witnesses heard him saying so.
Within no time the son of senior leader of Peoples Democratic Party, Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansar reached there with his security who went on rampage and beat the Negoo with a stick and rained kicks on him, eyewitness added.
They also said the other policemen and CRPF personnel in riot gears watched as mute spectators as a cop was being rained with kicks.
When the reporter asked the policemen why they did not stopped him from beating the traffic police officer, they said, “They are very powerful people escorted with police personnel. We cannot fight with them.”
Quereshi is also believed to be close associated with the congress party.
The car which jumped the signal has been identified as bearing plate number JK04A 4058, while the car in which ministers son came was bearing number JK01R 7777.
Meanwhile, an FIR has been lodged in the P/S Kothi Bagh 92/2012 under section 353 against Shafiq Ahmad Qureshi. The vehicle—Ford Fiesta—is registered under this name.
SP Traffic Police, Srinagar City, Haseeb-ur-Rehman told Hill Post that strong action will be taken against the people who were involved in the manhandling of the officer and an FIR has already been filed.
Recently In a similar kind of incident, a traffic policeman was beaten by escorts of Taj Mohiuddin, Minister for Irrigation and Flood Control for stopping the motorcade of the minister from jumping a traffic signal at the same vicinity.
Later the police arrested the security guards of Mohiuddin— identified as Muhammad Abbas and Muhammad Shafi — and booked them for attempt to murder.
Zahid Maqbool is a freelance journalist based in Srinagar.
