| Day ahead of Yatra, Govt gives more teeth to ADGP Munir Khan | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, June 26: A day ahead of the formal commencement of annual Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage in restive Jammu and Kashmir, the government Tuesday ordered that Muneer Ahmed Khan, ADGP Home Guards and Security, shall also function as ADGP (Law & Order) in addition to his own duties.
According to an order, in respect of law and order matters, the two Zonal IGPs of Kashmir and Jammu shall report to ADGP (Law & Order) under the overall command and control of DGP, J&K.
Highly placed sources said the Home Ministry was "keen to give some crucial charge to Khan, who during his previous tenure as Inspector General of Police Kashmir range had remained successful."
Sources said accordance of the charge of ADGP Law and Order to Khan had been on the cards for the past around a month but that the "political uncertainties in the state had been hindering the decision."
Given the commencement of Yatra, however, the Raj Bhawan found it opportune to get in the "experienced hand so that he also contributes for smooth and hassle free pilgrimage" to the cave shrine.
Apart from enjoying the credit of eliminating most of the top militant commanders in Kashmir, Khan had managed to keep protests restricted to local areas.
"During his tenure (that time) the protests by anti-national elements were largely brought under control and would be localized while militancy was facing a smart defeat," a senior official close to Raj Bhawan told Early Times.
Apart from acceptance to the Home Ministry, Khan was enjoying good coordination with the Army. Former GOC Lt General Syed Atta Hasnain had publicly appreciated his term as IGP Kashmir.
Khan, however, was transferred after his promotion earlier this year.
As already reported by this newspaper, soon after taking over as IGP Kashmir, Khan had found that some two dozen police officers from Armed police had been working as SHOs at some vital police stations. Despite political pressures, the lot was sent back to their parent wing.
Sources said New Delhi is keen to assign crucial role to experienced hands in police and that more such decisions were in the offing. |
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