WEAPON THEFT: Legislator was given extra security to tackle high threat perception

Srinagar:The Peoples Democratic Party legislator from whose house a Special Police Officer (SPO) on Friday decamped with seven rifles and a pistol had been give extra security due to the high threat perception to him as he hailed from militancy infested Shopian district.

Ten personal security guards were deployed to protect Wachi MLA Aijaz Mir. Some of the guards were from the security wing of the police. The security guards were in addition to those deployed by the district police to protect the ancestral house of the MLA in Shopian district.

“Mir was given additional security keeping in view the area he belonged to, the threat perception and the area where he would usually travel,” an official said.

“Almost all MLAs from south Kashmir have been given additional security for their protection,” the official said.

Special Police Officer Adil Bashir, who decamped with eight weapons, is also a resident of Shopian and was part of the security deployment of the Wachi MLA. Bashir, who also worked as a cook, was engaged by the police last year.

“Even if the SPO was engaged on recommendation, it is important for the police to cross-check the antecedents of the people engaged to protect them,” said Javeed Beig, Baramulla MLA.

“It is worrying that the security apparatus could not detect it. The SPO could have done anything,” Beig said.

According to police sources, the SPO was a stone thrower before he joined the police on a part-time basis last year. The deserter SPO is believed to have joined militants.

The police say the investigation in the case is on. They have detained the seven personal security officers of the MLA for questioning and found them guilty of serious lapses. (Tribune)