STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana on Tuesday condemned the harassment and illegal confinement of Abdul Majid Laram, MLA Home Shaligugh constituency of South Kashmir by Jammu and Kashmir Police at Bakshi Nagar here, saying a privilege motion will be moved and legal recourse taken to punish the guilty.
“Illegal confinement of a public representative is disrespect to the democratic institutions”, Rana said adding that instead of showing courtesy and protocol to the MLA, he was subjected to ill-treatment in full public gaze.
Rana wondered over the police highhandedness once it came to know about the legislator and his party affiliation.
“They specifically asked him about the party he belonged to and misbehaved by passing sarcastic remarks”, he said and sought personal intervention of the Chief Minister and Speaker Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
The Provincial President said that the MLA and his PSO were held up and virtually kept in illegal confinement for 45 minutes at the busy square which resulted in traffic jam.
“It is disturbing to create a scene and expose a duly elected legislator to public wrath”, he said, hoping the top police hierarchy will appreciate the sensitivity of the matter and take cognizance against erring cops.
He said while Jammu and Kashmir Police has a track record of public service but black sheep within should not be allowed to trample its image. “They are needed to be taken to task”, he maintained.
The Provincial President said that legal team of National Conference will approach the court of law against police highhandedness and move privilege motion in the Legislative Assembly tomorrow.
Narrating the sequence of events to media persons, MLA Shali Bugh Abdul Majid Laram said that he had left for Jammu from his home in Kashmir yesterday morning after informing the security wing and Police Control Room.
“Upon reaching Jammu at 7:30 PM, I was stopped by a police team at Bakshi Nagar with a Sub- Inspector inquiring about out identities”, he said adding that once he introduced himself as MLA and other occupants as his PSO and official driver, the officer kept asking about parentage etc. He said they showed the police their identity cards, which they ignored and kept them virtually under confinement for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, he said more Nafri of the police arrived at the scene which had already drawn the attention of large number of people, resulting in traffic jam. He said he spoke to the Director General of Police, who assured to look into the matter personally and take action against the erring policemen. He said he also brought the matter into the notice of Minister for Works Abdul Rehman Veeri who also assured action but despite 22 hours nobody, neither the DGP nor the Works Minister, reverted back.
Elaborating on the incident, Laram said that the police told him that they had reports from Udhampur that militants were moving in hir vehicle. “Is this the way the police should behave with a legislator; is it Mehbooba Mufti’s healing teach”, he said while questioning about the synergy between different wings of police. He said he was repeatedly asked about his party affiliation and loudly told about the militants’ presence in his vehicle. “One can only imagine about the consequence of being told in full public gaze that militants were travelling in the vehicle”, he added and castigated PDP-BJP for converting Jammu and Kashmir into police-state.
