Shoe hurled at Omar, cops booted
PTI
SRINAGAR, AUG 15
A suspended police head constable flung a shoe at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during the Independence Day function here today in a security scare after which 15 policemen including four officers were suspended.
Omar was, however, not hit after Abdul Ahad Jani, who was also seated in the same VIP enclosure behind him at the highly secured Bakshi Stadium, threw the brown shoe but the chief minister remained unfazed saying it was a better way to protest than pelting stones.
Four of the 15 policemen who were suspended pending inquiry were of sub-inspector rank. It was not immediately known how he gained entry into the enclosure amid suggestions that he may have used one of the invitation cards sent to politicians.
The incident occurred while Omar was taking salute from the marching contingents after unfurling the tricolour at the main official function. The shoe landed on the ground in front of Omar who did not stir.
Shoe throwing is becoming a trend in protests with several politicians being targeted starting from President George W Bush in Iraq in December 2008. A shoe was also flung by a journalist at Union Home Minister P Chidambaram during a press conference in New Delhi in April 2009.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari is a latest victim
a similar incident early this month when he was on a visit to the United Kingdom..
Jan, who was suspended in May after a criminal case was registered against him, was overpowered and whisked away by security personnel immediately after the incident. He has been placed under arrest.
“He (Jan) has a history of being mentally disturbed. He has been under suspension since his arrest. An investigation is on,” Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda told reporters.
Jan stood up and shouted “We want freedom” while hurling the shoe and a black flag, the police said, adding that the shoe did not hit the chief minister.
Referring to the incident in his speech against the backdrop of stone pelting mobs repeatedly targeting security personnel in Kashmir valley leaving hundreds of them injured Omar said, “It is the best way to protest. It is better to raise slogans and hurl shoes but avoid stone pelting.”
Khoda said that Jan, a resident of Ajas in district Bandipora, was involved in a criminal case which had been registered against him in a police station at Parimpora here.
“He was arrested in that case on May 21 this year. On May 22 he was placed under suspension. Since then, he has been under suspension,” the DGP said, adding that he was later granted bail in that case.
Khoda said police were looking into various angles and “the inquiry will reveal what was behind it”.
