SRINAGAR: The personal security officer (PSO) of PDP functionary Haji Parvaiz Ahmad was shot dead by terrorists outside the neta’s residence at Natipora, Srinagar, early Monday. Parvaiz said this was the second attack on him since 2009, blaming the police for not providing adequate security cover — an allegation J&K DGP Dilbag Singh denied, stating that Parvaiz regularly violated security advisories.
PSO Manzoor Ahmed, a selection-grade constable, was returning from a grocery shop after buying milk when terrorists opened fire at him, leaving him critically wounded. He was rushed to Bone and Joint hospital with stomach injuries where he succumbed during treatment, police said. Security forces subsequently launched a massive search in the area to trace the perpetrators.
Parvaiz said, “My security cover was trimmed to a large extent though I constantly face threats. I’ve been repeatedly demanding protection and they are cutting it down instead. I don’t know why they (BJP) are so afraid of PDP.”
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti alleged the J&K administration has left the opposition leaders in a lurch by downgrading their security. Refuting the same, DGP Singh said, “Police asked Parvaiz to shift from Natipora, a congested locality prone to terror attacks, to an area with better security but he never paid heed to our suggestions. We reviewed his security and found a need for one PSO, but two were provided.”
Speaking at the wreath-laying ceremony of the slain PSO at District Police Lines, Srinagar, DGP Singh said Monday’s attack was an attempt to disrupt the ongoing DDC polls which have been going on peacefully, adding that police have clues about the attackers and they will soon be brought to book. He cited Sunday’s encounter in Poonch — in which two Lashkar ultras from Pakistan were killed — as proof of Pakistan’s motive to stir unrest in J&K and affect the election.
J&K Police on Monday shared a video of the operation on its Twitter page, stating: “Look at the difficult site where police led by district SSP, Army unit climbed and operated yesterday and neutralised two Pakistani terrorists of Lashker-i-Toiba. (sic)”
“Elaborate security arrangements are in place but we can’t put the movement of people to a complete halt while ensuring a grassroots-level exercise. In between, there is a discreet movement of some anti-national elements as well,” the DGP said, adding that attacks on politicians are possible despite adequate security cover. “BJP slain youth leader Waseem Bari had 10 PSOs but still got killed,” he added.
(with inputs from Sanjay Khajuria)