Srinagar, Aug 18: Even as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah pardoned policeman Abdul Ahad Jan who flung a shoe at him on August 15 here, the police officials suspended for the “security lapse” would continue to face the charges.
Sources in Home department told Greater Kashmir that the grant of pardon to Jan had nothing to with the charges being levelled against the suspended cops.
A senior official told Greater Kashmir that the accused officials would be reinstated only if the security wing finds it feasible.
“Once the internal inquiry is completed only then their fate can be decided,” said the official.
 At least 15 policemen including two Inspectors and two Sub-Inspectors of the security wing were suspended within hours of the incident for alleged security lapse on their part.
 The Central Pavilion at Bakshi Stadium, from where Jan shot his shoe towards the CM, was under strict security cover of elite Special Security Group (SSG).
 Only the VIPs and the other top brass were entitled to a seat in the Central Pavilion, which has a seating capacity of around 250.
 But the presence of the accused in the VIP arena took the agencies by surprise when he stood up and threw the shoe bringing embarrassment to the state government.
 The police initially said a politician had given Ahad Jan his invitation card. The Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda, had even termed Jan as mentally unstable.
 But on Tuesday all the police theories fell flat when Chief Minister released Jan after giving him a patient listening.
 Jan was declared a free man by the Chief Minister asking police to take back all charges framed against him. Jan has become an overnight hero in Kashmir after the shoe episode.

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