Srinagar: J&K’s Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Law and Order, Vijay Kumar Friday said that despite having inputs of a terrorist attack, the error of not adhering to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) claimed life of the police inspector Masroor Ahmad Wani.
Police officers, including DySPs, Zonal and District SPs, he said, have been instructed to ensure their subordinates obediently follow the SOPs whether on leave or when not carrying firearms.
The ADGP’s comments come a day after a police inspector from Yechpora Narwara area of the old city succumbed to the injuries he had sustained after being attacked by a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist while playing cricket with local youth at Eidgah grounds here on October 29. Wani died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on Thursday.
“Sometimes we make mistakes, and pay the price. We had inputs of the terrorist attack but the error of not adhering to the SOPs cost the life of one of our colleagues. But we have got some important leads in case and the investigation is on. It would be premature to share any information at the moment. Yes, those responsible will be soon taken to task,” Kumar told reporters on the sidelines of the wreath-laying ceremony of the slain cop at DPL Srinagar.
Asked what steps the police have taken to stop such attacks in the future, Kumar said there are a number of SOPs for police personnel and these will be followed strictly.
“We had issued a number of SOPs last year after several meetings and consultations…for officers and personnel, what to do when on leave or at home or outside. Awareness was spread but there are deficiencies sometimes, the consequences of which we have to bear,” he said.
To a question on whether there was any input shared with the officer about the attack, Kumar said there was an input and every police personnel was told but “there is a lapse sometimes”.
“We will take care in the future and every officer has been told to make their personnel aware of the SOPs and it is very important to follow them strictly,” he said.
He also said the probe into the killing inspector has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
“The case has been given to the NIA. The NIA and JK Police will investigate it jointly,” Kumar said.
Responding to a question on several security agencies taking actions against militants and their sympathisers to break the terror ecosystem, the senior police officer said kinetic and non-kinetic operations will continue.
“We have been doing it for the last two-to-three years by taking a holistic approach to fight and there are both kinetic as well as non-kinetic operations. This is a part of that and it will continue. We are also adding more steps to non-kinetic operations,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ADGP Kumar also chaired a joint meeting of all the DMs and SSsP of Kashmir division. Div Com Kashmir, IGP Kashmir, DD IB, DIsG of all the ranges of Kashmir, DIG CID and SSP PCR Kashmir also attended the meeting, a police spokesman said.
He said during the meeting, all the officers briefed Kumar on the prevailing law and order and security scenario and shared the field generated inputs with respect to all the expectedly emerging situations in view of upcoming events.
All the district heads were stressed to keep eye on the situation, and take preventive and punitive actions under law those who indulge in mischief, misinformation and misuse of social media. He stressed that miscreants and mischievous elements shouldn’t be allowed to vitiate peace and harmony.
Kumar asked all DMs and SSPs to conduct meetings with field officers and other stakeholders. ADGP also sensitized them about the calibrated response to be taken in case of any untoward scene emerging out of the situation, the spokesman said.
