J&K: When law enforcer became victim of brutality

Srinagar, Sept 11: It was a classic case when law enforcers in the country become the victim of sheer brutality and that too at the hands of law makers. The incident happened in Jammu and Kashmir when a traffic constable was brutally assaulted for doing his duty of stopping a Minister's motorcade that was flouting rules.

The victim, Sub Inspector Mohanlal was at the receiving end when he along with another traffic policeman was thrashed by J&K Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Taj Mohiuddin's security guards for daring to stop the cavalcade. The Minister's vehicle had not stopped at the traffic signal that had turned red.

All this occurred when the Minister was a mute witness to this brutal incident. Meanwhile, the Minister termed the matter a "minor scuffle". The Minister's men first assaulted a traffic policeman and when Mohanlal intervened, he was beaten up by the guards using a rifle. The matter left Mohanlal bloodied with swollen eyes and face. The incident occurred close to the busy Lal Chowk area in Srinagar.

Mohanlal was rushed to the hospital with his bloodied uniform. Speaking to media channels, he has been quoted as saying, "I told him rules are same for everyone, even the Chief Minister stops here. I intervened when he began beating up my junior. After that another escort hit me on eye with the rifle butt."

The Minister, however, feigned innocence in the incident. Police sources have, however, claimed that the minister should not have acted as a mute spectator. The Minister also stated that his personal staff was not involved in the scuffle.

Meanwhile, the two cops who carried out the assault have been slapped with murder charges. They have also been arrested and an FIR has been lodged against them at the Kothibagh police station.

Commenting on the incident, J&K CM Omar Abdullah tweeted, "The cops who beat the traffic police officer have been arrested and booked. I have asked for the strongest possible action under law."

But the fact remains that the Minister who chose to remain silent when the assault was being carried out is equally responsible and should be booked for murder charges along with the policemen.

OneIndia News