Ajas (Bandipora), Aug 18: Policemen Abdul Ahad Jan, who shot to instant fame for hurling shoe on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on August 15, was Wednesday accorded warm welcome by crowds of people in his home district of Bandipora.
 Amid pro-freedom slogans, Ahad was brought in a cavalcade of vehicles to native village of Ajas after being discharged from police hospital this morning.
 Slogans like “Teri Jan Meri Jan Ahad Jan Ahad Jan” reverberated in the streets of Sumbal and women sang traditional folk songs to greet him.
 Addressing the people, Jan said that he was forced by Government to name Peoples Democratic Party Patron Mufti Muhammad Sayed or Chairman Hurryiat (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani for being behind the shoe hurling. “But I denied,” he said adding, “They even offered me Dy SP post if I named these two.”
 “I hurled the shoe out of my own conscience and in protest against the civilian killings. I have not hurled shoe on Omar Abdullah but on Indian Parliament,” he said.
 Praising Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s leadership, Jan appealed people to follow him in letter and spirit.
 Naming Director General of Police and Inspector General of Police, Jan said, “They are killers and have instigated killings in Kashmir against which I reacted by hurling shoe on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.”
 Later talking to Greater Kashmir, Jan said he has decided to resign from his services and would work for the ‘ongoing freedom movement.’
 Jan said that he reached the VIP gallery in Bakhshi Stadium due his personal influence.
 “The policemen who were on security duty on the day know me personally as I have served in police department for long period in Srinagar,” he said.
 About his meeting with CM on Tuesday, Jan said Omar Abdullah didn’t ask him the reason for hurling the shoe. “However he asked me to pray for the resolution of Kashmir issue,” Jan revealed.
 About his release, Jan said that protests across the valley forced the government to release him.
 Earlier, a government spokesman said a warm send off was accorded to Abdul Ahad Jan at Police Control Room here from where he was released.
 Advisor to Chief Minister, Mubarak Gul, saw him off in presence of police officers and his relatives, said an official handout.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST