Srinagar, Aug 16: A local court here on Monday sent Head Constable Abdul Ahad Jan of Ajas Bandipora to police remand till August 21. Jan hurled a shoe on chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday.
Police produced Jan before the court of Forest Magistrate, Masrat Roohi, for seeking the remand. Jan was represented by his counsels Bilal Ahmad Wani and Advocate Mudasir.
Jan informed the court that he did not have affiliation with any mainstream political or separatist party. “I hurled shoe on chief minister to give vent to my anger over the present situation in Kashmir,” Jan said. A wailing Jan informed the court that he was beaten ruthlessly by several police officials in the Bakshi Stadium. Police informed the court that Jan was provided special medical treatment in the Police Hospital.
On Sunday, police filed a case against the accused vide FIR No. 70 under Section 447A, 352 and 124 A RPC. “We have registered an FIR against the accused,” confirmed Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari. The Deputy Inspector General, Central Kashmir, Deepak Kumar, who has been appointed enquiry officer in the case, said, “We started the enquiry yesterday only. I can’t share anything at the moment.” He said government had given him 10 days time to complete the enquiry. However, sources said the only development which took place today was that the brown shoe that Jan hurled was brought to the Shergarhi police station.
“It had been at the site of offence,” said a source.

THE SECURITY LAPSE:
The Central Pavilion at Bakshi Stadium, where from Jan shot the shoe, was under strict security cover of the elite Special Security Group (SSG). Only the VIPs and the other top brass were entitled to a seat in the Pavilion which has a seating capacity of around 250 persons. But the presence of Jan took the agencies by surprise when he stood up and threw the shoe, bringing embarrassment to the state government.

PDP REACTS SHARPLY:
Reacting to the government version that Jan’s entry was facilitated by a “rival political party,” the Peoples Democratic Party chief spokesperson Nayeem Akhter said it was another ridiculous move on the part of the Omar Abdullah-led government.
“This is out-rightly ridiculous to attribute it to PDP,” Nayeem told Greater Kashmir.
“The whole land is in turmoil and the people are up in arms while the government is responding only through creating multiple atrocities. They should read the writing on the wall and take the ground situation into account,” he said. He said the NC-led government was habitual of accusing the PDP on every front. “They have always been accusing the PDP, LeT, the neighboring country and even some businessmen of fueling the unrest,” he said. “Basically the government is running short of excuses… everybody is an accused before them.”
Nayeem said the day wasn’t far when the NC led government would accuse the PDP of being responsible for the cloudburst at Leh.
Taking a dig at the Chief Minister, the PDP leader said, “He thinks everybody is after his chair. But the chair has gone meaningless as it has been spoiled with the blood of innocents,” Nayeem said.
He argued if the government was so quick in action against Jan, why didn’t it keep its promise in case of innocent killings in Islamabad and Srinagar during the past two month unrest.
“On June 29, the Chief Minister said action will be taken within 24 hours in killings of three persons in Islamabad. Those 24 hours proved to be the longest,” he argued.
Nayeem said there were many other cases like the killing of a nine-year old in Batamaloo but the government never acted justly.

JAN UNDERGOES CT SCAN THRICE:
Sources said Abdul Ahad Jan was taken to SMHS Hospital for treatment where he underwent CT Scan thrice before being taken away under high security cover. Witnesses said the moment Jan was brought to the hospital, people started raising pro-freedom slogans in support of the shoe-thrower even as police had a tough time finding way through the mob.
“As if we were escorting an incarcerated leader that people came in his support,” said a policeman requesting not to be named. A police official said Jan was hypertensive patient and so the police didn’t take any chances. “That is only why we got him to undergo CT scan thrice,” he said. Jan was later shifted to a cell at Police Control Room.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST