Early Times Report
Jammu, May 10: The recent killing of south Indian tourist in Kashmir has brought the Jammu and Kashmir Police under scanner for failure to provide adequate security to the visitors.
R Thirumani, a 22-year-old youth from Chennai, who was critically wounded during stone pelting on May 7, died of head injuries later in the day, triggering nationwide outrage and denting Kashmir's hospitality.
Thirumani and his family were on way to Gulmarg when stones were unscrupulously pelted at their vehicle, at Narbal, some 15km from the summer capital of Srinagar. The killing proved to be major blow for Kashmir's image as a preferred tourist destination.
Observers asked why the tourists were allowed to drive down the road where stone pelting was on. They said it was the duty of the police to have either secured their movement or have asked them to avoid the travel.
"The incident of stone pelting took place on one of the most high profile highways in the Valley. From VIPs to Army convoys many cavalcades ply on this road day and night," said a retired police official who has worked in the area.
He said firstly the stone-pelting should have been curbed in time. "And if the police was unable to tackle the situation, it should have shown the responsibility to stop tourist vehicles from venturing into the deathtrap. This is sheer failure and negligence on the part of police department," the official said.
Sources said the government is already looking into this angle of security lapse and that heads were likely to roll in the coming days. "The negligence on the part of police can just not be ignored," said a senior official.
Of late, stone pelting has only turned more menacing in the garb of the so called Kashmir cause.
The government is accused of hiding reality about attack on tourists. "The attack on him (Thirumani) was swept under the carpet. He was wounded at around 8.00 AM while the news of the attack broke only at 8.30 PM, only after he had breathed his last," said an official adding there were "political pressures."
Sources said the government has sought report regarding police failure. |
