Says directions passed to all ranks and files to follow SoPs in spirit; Had inputs about possible attack at Eidgah but mistakes do happen sometimes; ; those involved in Inspector Wani’s killing will be brought to justice soon, senior police, civil officers attend wreath laying of slain cop

Jammu and Kashmir Police Friday said all the officers and other ranks have been directed to follow Standard Operating Procedure (SoPs) in spirit while on leave or on duty to avoid incidents like the one in which a police inspector was attacked on October 29 at Eidgah, Srinagar.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the wreath laying ceremony slain police inspector Masroor Ahmed Wani, who was injured in a terrorist attack while playing cricket at Eidgah on October 29, and succumbed yesterday at AIIMS, at DPL Srinagar, ADGP Law and Order Vijay Kumar said and the officers and other ranks have been directed to follow the SoPs in spirit.

“Fresh directions passed to one and all to follow SoPs while on leave or while performing the duties to avoid becoming soft targets,” Kumar said. Inspector Wani succumbed at AIIMS yesterday after battling for life for 39 days. A bullet had stuck his head. Wani’s body was brought to Srinagar from AIIMS this morning.

ADGP Kumar while replying to a query admitted that police had inputs about possible attack by the terrorists on October 29. “Yes, we had inputs about a possible attack by terrorists. But mistakes happen at some times and in this case also, a mistake happened and we lost an officer,” he said, adding that a “fool-proof mechanism has been put in place to avoid Eidgah like incidents.”

Asked about the attackers involved in Wani’s killing, he said: “Those involved will be eliminated or arrested soon. It is not advisable to reveal anything about the ongoing investigations.” Meanwhile, senior officers from the administration and police attended the wreath laying ceremony of slain inspector Masroor Ahmed Wani at DPL amid moist eyes. Floral tributes were paid to the fallen cop.

A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, will deliver one of the most awaited court verdicts on Monday, December 11, when it rules on the constitutionality of abrogation of the Article 370 and reorganization of Jammu & Kashmir into two Union Territories.

The five-judge constitution bench, also comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant, is expected to pronounce its verdict in the case on Monday.

In August 2019, the Union Government had abrogated the Article 370 and reorganized Jammu & Kashmir into two UTs.

Also Read: SSP Sopore warns strict action against social media pages glorifying suicides

Several petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 were filed in the Supreme Court by different parties. A number of political parties including National Conference and Peoples Conference had also challenged the Centre’s decision.

After hearing the matter for 16 days, the Supreme Court had reserved its verdict in the case on September 05.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sopore, Shabir Nawab, on Thursday issued a stern warning to social media page handlers, especially Facebook, urging them to refrain from glorifying suicide cases. He said strict legal action would be taken against those found engaged in such activities.

The SSP said the police in north Kashmir’s Sopore Police District (PD) are prepared to take decisive measures against those involved in glorifying suicide cases.

The advisory comes in the wake of a recent suicide case reported in Sopore, where a teenage girl from Harwan Tujjer (Sopore outskirts) took her own life by jumping into the River Jhelum at Jamia Bridge in the township.

Also Read: DGP expresses profound grief on the loss of Inspector Masroor Wani

Addressing the media, SSP Nawab expressed concern over the unnecessary media coverage which he said contributes to a surge in suicide incidents in Sopore, terming it “intolerable”.

Following the suicide incident, a search operation was initiated to locate the victim’s body. Despite the efforts of local fishermen and teams from J&K Police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the body had not been recovered from the waters of Jhelum after two days.

This advisory is not the first of its kind from SSP Nawab. In a recent press briefing regarding a murder case in Zaloora village under the jurisdiction of Police Station Bomai, he directed Facebook page owners and portals to abstain from engaging in media trials. Such actions adversely impact society and the victims involved, impeding investigations at the crime scene, he said.

Senior citizens in the town have expressed concerns over the unnecessary media coverage, which they believe sensationalises the incidents and may influence the younger generation negatively.

Authorities should only allow rescue teams and authorised media to the site to prevent such locations from becoming picnic spots as witnessed in previous incidents, they said.