Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Omar Abdullah asked the police administration to refrain from establishing “green corridor” when he is on the move and ‘instructed the DGP to minimise public inconvenience and also minimizing the use of sirens.
Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that he as has asked the J&K police chief to refrain from establishing a ‘green corridor’ or traffic stoppage when he moves anywhere by road.
The chief minister said that he has also ‘instructed the DGP to minimise public inconvenience while also minimizing the use of sirens.’
He said, the security personnel should avoid any aggressive use of stick waving or any other aggressive gestures.
“I have spoken to DG police that there is to be no “green corridor” or traffic stoppage when I move anywhere by road. I have instructed him to minimise public inconvenience & the use of sirens is to be minimal. The use of any stick waving or aggressive gestures is to be totally avoided. I’m asking my cabinet colleagues to follow the same example. In everything our conduct must be people friendly. We are here to serve the people & not to inconvenience them,” Omar wrote on his official X-handle.
It may be mentioned here that VIP movements on the roads of Kashmir, particularly in Srinagar city, have been a constant pain in the neck of residents.
“Forget about LG movement, even when SP rank Police officers move on the roads, commoners are made to halt for hours. Qazigund-Srinagar highway is a nightmare, an ant can move if some army or security force convoy is on the move,” said a political activist, who is ideologically opposed to Omar Abdullah’s NC but believes that his (Omar’s) green corridor message is really pro-people.
“We have been on the receiving end from so many years, even SHO of a Thana stops all traffic movement if he is on the road. Sirens all blowing all over, people on the streets are treated as pigmies,” said Iqbal Ahmad, a school teacher who revealed that once on Gupkar road, a few months back, he alongwith some students were made to stop, though they were walking, and look in other direction as some VVIP’s convoy was passing through.
“We have been reduced to nothingness. Ambulances are stopped when some bureaucrats, police officers or VVIP’s are on the move. They treat us like second class citizens. Let us see whether Omar Abdullah’s word holds,” said a KU teacher, adding, it may not be too easy for Omar as LG office may have “other ideas”.
