The Tribune"™s staff correspondent Azhar Qadri was allegedly assaulted by Imtiyaz Ismail Parray, Sub Divisional Police Officer, Shaheed Gunj, Srinagar, while he was covering a protest by nursing students at the Old Secretariat Wednesday. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has promised to look into the matter.
"I was talking to the protesters when somebody hit me from behind. When I moved, I saw the police officer. When I asked him why he slapped me, he kicked me. Soon his security guards joined him and beat me with rifle butts," Qadri said.
The policemen detained Qadri at the Shaheed Gunj Police station for an hour. Before being released, he was allegedly forced to sign a bond that he will be present before the court, if asked.
This is the third instance in recent days when police high handedness was reported in the city. Last month, security guards of Irrigation Minister Taj Mohidin beat a policeman who prevented them from jumping a traffic light. Delhi-based journalist David Devdas was beaten by police sometime ago in Srinagar.
The journalist fraternity of the Valley registered their protest before Chief Minister Omar Abdullah when he addressed a press conference. The Chief Minister assured media persons that he will look into the incident.
Kashmir Journalists Corps condemned the assault on Qadri and called for an immediate probe into the incident and action against the police officer and his security guards.
"This is not for the first time that journalists have become victims of police atrocity while performing their professional duties. Even as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and top police brass, on several occasions, assured journalists that they would be provided peaceful atmosphere to work, the police continue to hamper their professional work and intimidate them," said a spokesman of the KJC. The KJC has urged the CM and Director General of Police to intervene so that journalists can work without any fear.