Director General of Police (DGP), J&K, Dilbag Singh on Monday said that the attack on the residence of a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader in Srinagar that left a policeman dead was an attempt to disrupt ongoing District Development Council (DDC) in the Union Territory. “The motive (behind the attack) was to disturb the ongoing election, which is a very big event and people are enthusiastically participating in that. This is also an attempt to disturb the peaceful environment that we have ensured with the cooperation of the people and hard work of security forces and police,” Mr Singh told reporters after the wreath laying ceremony PSO Manzoor Ahmed at District Police Lines (DPL) Srinagar. Selection Grade Constable, a Personal Security Officer (PSO) of a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader, was killed by suspected militants at Natipora in Srinagar on Monday morning. Mr Singh said that police has clues about the number of militants involved in the attack and area where they came from, adding that the attackers will be tracked down soon. “You must understand that we are going through an important exercise throughout J&K. That exercise (DDC election) is important for the grass root level democracy… The enthusiasm with which the people were participating in the election is commendable,” he said. Answering a question, the DGP said that the PDP leader was advised to leave the area because it is a densely populated area. “There is a written record with police that he was asked to shift to a safer place. He didn’t heed to this advise… he was infact de-categorized when he didn’t go by security precautions. He regularly violates security precautions… but security was again given to him after assessment. He was entitled to one PSO, but he was given two PSOs. So all those allegations are baseless,” he said. The DGP said very elaborative security arrangements were made at polling stations and along the routes. However, he said, “despite best of our arrangements we can’t put a civil curfew, where people are not allowed to move. People have to move… it is a big exercise and movement has to be ensured. So among large movement of people you have a hidden movement of anti-national element.” On Poonch encounter, Mr Singh said that a group of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants had infiltrated and were trying to reach Shopian but couldn’t due to snow accumulation in the area. “Police and Army traced them for three days and when the encounter ensued we asked them to surrender so that we could show the world how our neighbor is fomenting trouble in Kashmir. But the militants refused to surrender and were killed in the gunfight,” he added.
