PSO Held in Bandipora Firing Incident; Two Congress Workers Injured
MLA Denies Accused Was His PSO; Injured Out of Danger
Bandipora, Nov 14, KNT: Police arrested a constable in connection with a firing incident at Panzigam Barzulla in Bandipora in which two workers of a Congress leader were injured.
Officials said Altaf Baba was taken into custody for allegedly opening fire on two workers associated with Congress leader Usman Majeed. The incident occurred on Wednesday night, triggering political reactions in the area.
The injured were identified as Mudasir Ahmad Shah and Abdul Majeed Khan. Both were shifted to SKIMS for treatment. Doctors said Shah sustained a bullet injury in the groin and was admitted to the Urology ward, while Khan, who suffered a minor leg injury, was discharged. Medical officials said both were out of danger.
Usman Majeed alleged that the accused was the Personal Security Officer of MLA Bandipora Nizamuddin Bhat and described the incident as politically motivated.
Bhat denied the allegation, stating that the accused was not his PSO but was associated with his escort detail during official movement. He said it was incorrect to describe the constable as his personal security officer and asked that the designation be verified with the security authorities.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party termed the incident unfortunate and said it was being politicized. In a statement, a party spokesman said the constable was deputed for escort duty during VIP movement and was not the MLA’s PSO. He added that the accused reportedly had a personal dispute with the injured persons and said police should ascertain the facts and take appropriate action.
The local MLA also conveyed displeasure over the controversy and indicated he would seek withdrawal of his security cover, including PSOs and house guards, stating that his personal reputation was paramount.
Police said investigation into the incident was underway. [KNT]
