Dy SP lynching: JK policemen asked to avoid Eid prayers at public places

In the backdrop of lynching of a senior police officer by a mob outside the Jama Masjid in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Police has advised its personnel not to offer Eid prayers in public places.

“You are advised to instruct the field and subordinate formations that they shall not offer Eid prayers in isolated or general mosques or eidgahs,” an advisory issued from Police Control Room (PCR) on behalf of inspector general of police, Kashmir, to all police stations across the Valley reads.

The advisory has been marked to all wings of J&K Police, Army’s 15-Corp, ITBP, SSB, CRPF, BSF and CISF. The Eid-ul-Fitr, that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, is being celebrated in Kashmir on Monday.

State police chief Shesh Pal Vaid said it is good to take precautions. "They (police personnel) are my children, so we will advise them to take precautions," he told reporters when asked about the advisory which comes in the backdrop of a mob lynching of Deputy Superintendent Police Mohammad Ayub Pandith outside the historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of old city on Thursday during Shab-e-Qadar prayers.

Earlier, in April the police had issued an advisory to its personnel to avoid visiting their hometowns “for the next few months”, following incidents of attacks by militants on their residences and family members.

The advisory has been issued after increasing attacks on families of police personnel in Kulgam and Shopian in South Kashmir. The unprecedented incidents had sent shock waves through the police force, prompting the Vaid to issue a warning: "Militants  should realise they too have families. Let them (militants) take this as a warning."

On May 9, a 22-year-old army officer from Kulgam was kidnapped from a family wedding and later killed by unidentified militants in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.