The Jammu and Kashmir police on Wednesday transferred the police officer who was caught on camera beating photojournalists when they were covering a Muharram procession in Srinagar on Tuesday.
An official said nine policemen, including a Station House Officer (SHO), who was seen beating up the scribes, were transferred. Among them, three policemen, including the accused officer, Aftab Ahmad Bhat, were attached with the District Police Lines (DPL).
Earlier in the day, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh ordered an “immediate action” on the incident and described it an “undesirable behaviour”. He asked the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Srinagar, “to take immediate action against the erring police officer”.
The police action evoked criticism from all the political parties in J&K, including former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.
The Kashmir Press Photographers Association (KPPA) condemned the use of force by police. “The photojournalists were dispatching their professional duties. The police action is unjustified and uncalled for,” it said.