J&K cops told to pray at protected mosques on Eid

Srinagar: In view of recent mob frenzy and increased incidence of deadly attacks by militants, Muslim policemen in Jammu and Kashmir have been asked to offer Id prayers in protected mosques and avoid relocating to general mosques, common prayer grounds (Eidgahs) and isolated areas.

Id, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramzan, is likely to be observed in Jammu and Kashmir and major other parts of the country and the rest of South Asia on Monday.

The past few weeks witnessed a series of terror attacks on policemen across the restive Valley. In one such attack that took place on June 16 in Acchawal area of southern Anantnag district, six policemen, including SHO Feroz Ahmed Dar, were killed by Lashkar-e-Tayyaba militants. On the night of June 22, a police deputy superintendent, Muhammad Ayub Pandith, was lynched by a mob outside Srinagar’s Grand Mosque.

Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Muneer Ahmed Khan has issued an advisory, asking policemen to stay away from places of worship which are not secured. He has termed the advisory “a preventive measure” aimed at ensuring their safety. Marked as “most urgent” communication, it asks senior officers to “instruct the field and subordinate formation” not to offer Id prayers in isolated or general mosques or Eidgahs.

“You are advised to instruct the field and subordinate formations that they shall not offer Id prayers in isolated or general mosques or Eidgahs,” the advisory says. It has asked police personnel to offer Id prayers in mosques in district police lines in Srinagar and nearby police control rooms. It adds, “In other districts also, Id prayers shall be offered in DPL mosques or protected mosques...” where the safety of your personnel is ensured.” The advisory has been sent also to the Army and paramilitary forces which are part of Indian Kashmir’s security grid and have been at the forefront of counterinsurgency operations.

Khan said, “I consider our each policeman and other security personnel as my own children. It is, therefore, my responsibility to prepare them for possible emergencies, identify possible threats and ask them to be cautious and avoid unnecessary risks.”