Srinagar, Dec 13: A day after the government ordered probe into deadly attack on Law Minister and police started investigations; the Telecommunication wing of the Khaki force seems to have been caught napping because for the past ten odd days Ali Muhammad Sagar he has been without a Wireless Operator, a skilled cop who keeps track of his movements and informs the concerned quarters for security arrangements.
 Greater Kashmir learnt from reliable sources that the investigating team has found that Sagar’s Wireless Operator, who keeps track of the Minister’s movement and updates concerned quarters for security arrangements, has gone off for training.
 Sources said Muhammad Saleem Lone, Wireless Operator, who hails from Sagar’s Khanyar constituency has been off since December 3 for some official training outside state. Since then no substitute was offered who could keep track of the Minister’s navigation, officials said.
 This, as per security experts, means that the Minister, who holds multiple portfolios including Parliamentary Affairs and Panchayat Raaj, was moving without proper security arrangements all these days.
 “Even though his other staff too can communicate for security arrangements but absence of wireless operator is like leaving a VIP stray,” said a retired police official.
 A senior official probing the case said the matter is being “looked upon as a lapse” by the concerned wing.
 Yesterday during a high level meeting convened following probe orders by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah some top cops had raised the issue of the minister’s movement without any intimidation to police on Sunday evening when gunmen attacked his ancestral house in old City leaving a bodyguard dead while two others were wounded.
 “We are looking how Ali Muhammad Sagar traveled to the place without informing us. It is also part of the investigations as we want to know how they ignored police when a Cabinet Minister is involved,” a senior official pleading anonymity had disclosed.
 Police’s Wireless and Telecommunication wing however denies the reports saying not only the Minister but his former Mayor son Salman Ali Sagar also has a Wireless Operator attached to him.
 Even though the Sagar couldn’t be contacted for comments, Salman while talking to Greater Kashmir acknowledged that Lone has gone on leave.
 About his own Wireless Operator, Salman Sagar said, he was attached to him as a security personnel but doesn’t have any wireless equipment nor he does any such job.
 “He used to be my wireless operator when I was Mayor but since then he doesn’t hold any wireless or similar tele-communication gadgets,” he added.
 Pertinently on Sunday evening Sagar and his two sons had a close shave when they were receiving the guests at the main entrance of their ancestral home in old city when gunmen opened fire. The gunfight between the gunmen and Sagar’s bodyguards continued for around 15 minutes till assailants fled and the political family was rushed back to their official Church Lane residence by Inspector General of Police S M Sahai.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 IST