Hirra Azmat
Srinagar, July 26: Three vehicles parked inside the Press Enclave were damaged by unknown persons during the intervening Wednesday night.
The rear windshields of three cars, including an SUV belonging to former BBC North India Correspondent Altaf Hussain were smashed during night.
“We came to know about it in the morning. The rear view windows lay broken and it seemed someone had broken into the car and searched through the things,” said Hussain.
“It appeared that documents were searched thoroughly but nothing has been stolen,” he said.
While demanding answers from the police, he asked, “What happened to the flying squad vehicle present in the press colony? The vehicle was supposed to be here from 8 in the morning till 8 in the evening. Either it has happened in their presence or they were entirely absent from the scene.”
Hussain believes, the incident is a major “security breach”.
He said, “The incident came to fore six weeks after the assassination of Shujat Bukhari. It clearly shows the Press Colony is still unsafe, despite various security measures taken post the assassination.”
The incident, which has come barely six weeks after the assassination of senior journalist and Rising Kashmir chief editor Shujaat Bukhari at the press enclave has instilled a fear among journalists who reside or work from the Press Enclave.
Bukhari was leaving his office in Press Enclave when he was shot dead along with his security guards on June 14.
Following his assassination, police installed a CCTV camera in the colony to keep a proper vigil.
While Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, Imtiyaz Ismail Parray said the police have taken cognizance of the incident.
“We are investigating the matter and will update soon,” he said.
The Director General of Police Thursday said that police is investigating the Smashing of windshields of cars at press enclave here in Srinagar.
“Police has taken cognizance of the incident. Concerned police officials have been directed to investigate the case,” DGP S. P Vaid said.
