Woman SPO raised legitimate questions, police action cruel: Mehbooba Mufti
Hours after a woman Special Police Officer (SPO) Saima Akhter was arrested and slapped with India’s anti-terror law besides terminated from services, Mehbboba Mufti termed the police’s action “cruel”.
“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,” Mufti, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said.
Earlier, the police had arrested the woman SPO and disengaged her from services, accusing her of “obstructing” a military operation in Pulwama district of south Kashmir.
“On 14 April 2021, after receiving specific input regarding the presence of (militants) in Karewa Mohallah of Village Frisal, a search operation was launched there. During the course of search, the search party was obstructed by a woman identified as Saima Akther D/O Ghulam Nabi Rah R/O Frisal,” a police spokesman said in a statement.
“The woman resisted the search party and turned violent, and uttered statements glorifying violent actions of (militants),” the spokesman said, adding, “She captured a video through her personal phone and forwarded it on social media platforms with the aim of disrupting the search.”
Taking cognizance of the matter, the woman has been arrested and subsequently terminated from service, he said.
Regarding the incident, the police spokesman said that a case (FIR No 19/2021) U/S 353 IPC, 13 UAP Act stands registered in Police Station Yaripora and “investigation of case is in progress.” (GNS)
