Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, July 4: Senior Superintendent of Police Shailendra Mishra, who is seen among the most competent officers to have successfully manned militancy-infested Shopian district in the past around a decade, is now breaking the internet for his emotional tribute to his slain Personal Security Officer, Javed Ahmed Dar aka JD who was killed by militants on the day Misra left the restive district last year.
Mishra is seen so successful in manning Shopian that during his tenure as SSP of the district militants never dared to kill a policeman. But as the fate had it on the day he was transferred out of the district, his own PSO was the first victim. JD was abducted and then killed in July 2018.
Year on, Mishra remembers JD in an emotional tribute.
"'Sir, iske ghar mein problem hai, isko please chutti chodhna hai' and I'd promptly say YES. This was JD, our favourite in the team. He was loved by all in the close protection team that kept me out of harms way while at work, while at home or while just playing a game of cricket with the local Kashmiri teams in the restive districts of the valley," Mishra posted on his Facebook. "Everyone in the team knew how to get their work done subtly, to get leaves sanctioned, punishments reduced, pardons achieved and just an EIDI on each Eid, out of their boss. The way was, via JD. I didn't know why I liked him so much. Born in the troubled village of Vehil in shopian district of south Kashmir, Javed Ahmed Dar, lovingly called JD was one of five siblings, with a brother and three sisters," the SSP added.
"He accompanied me in every battle I fought on the field and on many occasions I owe my safe return to his bravery. He was duly recognised for his efforts by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, which conferred him with the prestigious Sher-e-Kashmir medal. There were moments during our small excursions in the hills, where we used to pull his leg, telling him, that we all would take his baraat to his village in big police convoy, putting him on a police truck."
And then, Mishra spoke about the killing.
"On the fateful day, today, last year, the 05th of July, while he was out there on duty, JD was kidnapped by militants outside a medical store. They took JD after firing a few shots in the air, and knowing very well that the fighter was un-armed. My phone rang at 06.45 pm on that day. It was the girl whom he loved the most. She kept crying on the phone and asking me "why him?". I had no answers. She yelled at me ordering me to get him back. The world suddenly had come to a stand still. It was happening. Our boy was with the enemy. A long effort in a short few hours was undertaken. Everyone from all the forces, all the friends, we all tried whatever we could. At dawn we found his body with gunshot wounds in his heart. JD had been martyred."
The SSP had a emotional outburst on why stories of such martyrs remain untold. "JD has fallen. Many like him did too. But the question still remains. Why are their Stories not told? Why are they just a number? He sacrificed his life in the line of duty, he lived for peace. He revered the idea of India. Was an ardent supporter of the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, a city which I belong to, and that was enough for him to follow it. He was a true patriot, much more than patriotism can ask for."
Known as a Dabangg officer who calls a spade a spade and for whom nation takes priority over politics, Mishra holds the distinction of being among the few police officers who kept their districts largely under control during 2016 unrest.
"In fact protests were minimal in the district that time but after his transfer things changed," said a retired police official keeping an eye on south Kashmir. |
