The Jammu & Kashmir police, on Friday, arrested a Special Police Officer (SPO) under the stringent anti-terror law in Frisal village in Kulgam of South Kashmir. The arrest of SPO named Saima Akhter was done under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and her services have been terminated since then.
The army, after receiving a specific tip that terrorists were hiding in the Frisal village, reached there on April 14 and started with the search operation. However, an enraged Saima intervened and created a mindless ruckus and halted the operation. She reportedly issued threats glorifying violence against the Army and captured a video of the confrontation on her cell phone. The police informed that she later uploaded the video on social media in a bid to disrupt the search operation.
“Why do you come again and again?”, she asks in the video. “Go to the houses where terrorists are. You don’t even allow us to have our Sehri. If you have to search our house, first remove your shoes.”
After the Army man, who could not be seen either, shouts back, the woman says, “We are not going to be scared. This is our Kashmir. You have come from outside…Had they (terrorists) been here, they would have fired a magazine of bullets into your chest,” said Akhter.
https://twitter.com/kashmirAdolph/status/1382207669956603904
In an official release, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, district Kulgam confirmed the arrest and Saima’s discharge from active duty.
“Kulgam Police arrests woman SPO, terminates her service for glorifying terrorism & obstructing govt officials in discharge of their duty. FIR No 19/2021 U/S 353 IPC, 13 UAP Act stands registered in PS Yaripora & investigation is in progress,” tweeted the District Police Kulgam.
Kulgam Police arrests woman SPO, terminates her service for glorifying terrorism & obstructing govt officials in discharge of their duty. FIR No 19/2021 U/S 353 IPC, 13 UAP Act stands registered in PS Yaripora & investigation is in progress.@JmuKmrPolice@KashmirPolice@DigSkr.
— District Police Kulgam: official (@policekulgam) April 16, 2021
Out of job and favour since the abrogation of Article 370, Mehbooba Mufti tried to milk the incident by claiming police had inflicted cruelty on the woman who was trying to shield the terrorists. Mehbooba’s soft spot for Saima explains why separatism and terrorism went hand in hand and blossomed during her tenure as the state CM.
“Saima Akhter from Kulgam has been slapped with UAPA for raising legitimate questions about searching her home repeatedly without any reason. Saima’s ailing mother understandably exacerbated her worries. When it comes to cruelty even women aren’t spared in Naya Kashmir,” Mehbooba tweeted.
Saima Akhter from Kulgam has been slapped with UAPA for raising legitimate questions about searching her home repeatedly without any reasons. Saima’s ailing mother understandably exacerbated her worries. When it comes to cruelty even women arent spared in Naya Kashmir. https://t.co/KaGJq6mtbA
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) April 16, 2021
The arrest of Saima is the Modi government’s stern message to terrorist sympathizers who are present in bulk quantities in the valley. Cop or no cop — those supporting the terrorists and their ill-intentioned activities will be brought to swift justice without any discrimination.