Prof. S.K.BHALLA
Officially, there is no update in the public domain about the sensational Sainik Colony murder which at initial stage was attempted to be painted as road accident by local police. Two women received bullet injuries while one succumb to injuries during treatment at GMC, Jammu. The case was transferred to Crime Branch after forensic investigation pointed that victim received grave injuries due to a bullet fired from a weapon of the accused. Now, past 60 days, after the CBJ took over the case, the police organization is tight lipped over the matter of huge public importance. In the aftermath of infamous Sainik colony shoot out, the local police was hogging limelight for all the wrong reasons allegedly when the suspended cops in the wake of firing incident in Sainik colony failed to perform their expected duties in a professional manner. It is a matter of grave concern that those manning Sainik Colony police post remained unaware about firing incident in a Physiotherapy center where at accused Army soldier fired scores of rounds indiscriminately thereby exposing the poor intelligence grid managed by local police in the area.
The enigmatic silence of police in the whole matter is a matter of huge public concern as there are many loopholes in what transpired and what reported. There are reports in the local media that under the garb of Physiotherapy center a well established racket of moral turpitude was operational for the last more than 16 months. It is strange, that our brave cops were hibernating about what wrong was flourishing under their nose. Even, there are reports that undesirable activities at the center were blessed by some serving and retired senior cops for reasons best known to them. Pertaining to association of some highly influential women with racket it is a moot question as to why police organization have not refuted the media exposure about the raids conducted by the police at the premises of relatives of one senior police officer and the alleged attempts to hush up the matter ?. This is a serious aberration unexpected in a civilized society.
It is important to note that the victim woman died after 9 days shuttling from one hospital to another and ultimately breathed her last at GMC, Jammu. Her departure from this mundane world leaves many questions unanswered- the primary being whether she collapsed due to mishandling of bullet injury at initial stage of her treatment or she was pushed to death due to negligence of cops who allegedly passed off the case as road accident. Was it apt to appoint promotees SI and ASI as SHO of Channi Himmat and PP Sainik colony respectively post suspensions? These are uncomfortable questions that have wrenched the conscience of those in khakhi who are wedded to the safety and security of the citizens. The whole scenario has eroded the faith of the citizens in the functioning of the police especially at a time when Jammu police has won laurels in smashing the backbones of gangsters and drug suppliers. Now, it is expected of police department to restore the shaken confidence of the common citizenry and reveal the modus operandi of center blessed by a few black …..
(Disclaimer: The author of the write up is a retired College Principal and a renowned watcher of men and manners. The views expressed are his own)