Uproar in House over terror attack, govt admits to lapses

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 7

Admitting a security lapse in Tuesday’s terror attack at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital in Srinagar, the J&K Government on Wednesday announced that a thorough investigation would be conducted into the incident.

Two policemen of the J&K Police were killed in the attack and one dreaded Pakistani terrorist Naveed Jatt, alias Abu Hanzalla, of the Lashkar-e-Toiba was freed from custody by militants.

As soon as the House assembled this morning for the question hour, National Conference member Ali Mohammad Sagar raised the issue, Within no time, other opposition members joined Sagar and took the government to task for the “biggest security lapse”.

Amid the shouting of slogans, Sagar said Tuesday’s incident spoke volumes about the prevailing situation in the Valley. Congress member GM Saroori also vociferously raised the issue and asked the government to come out with a statement.

Reacting to the concern shown by opposition members, Minister for Revenue AR Veeri said the government would investigate the lapses. An FIR had been registered and investigation taken up, he added.

Giving details, he said a Pakistani militant had managed to escape from police custody after militants attacked a police party in SMHS Hospital, Srinagar.

“On February 6 around 11:30, a Pakistani militant Mohammad Naveed Jatt, using aliases Abu Hanzalla and Choti, lodged in Central Jail, Srinagar, was brought to SMHS Hospital along with five more detainees escorted by the police party of District Police Lines,” he said.

He informed the House that as soon as they reached the OPD of SMHS Hospital, the police party accompanying the militant was fired at by some unknown militants with a pistol. Two police personnel, namely Head Constable Mushtaq Ahmad and Constable Babar Khan, got injured and later succumbed.