Plot on to eliminate me, says J&K’s highly decorated police officer

A highly decorated senior police officer has created a flutter after he went public claiming that an atmosphere is being built on the social media to get him eliminated, in Jammu and Kashmir.

Imtiyaz Hussain, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), who was recently transferred from the Baramulla, district to the security wing of Jammu and Kashmir police, did not name anyone but blamed the “well-known people who are hyperactive on the social media” for the ‘slanderous’ campaign.

In a series of tweets, Imtiyaz red-flagged the issue saying that he was one among very few police officers active on the social media and being forthright besides calling a spade a spade.

“There are some well-known people hyperactive on Facebook and Twitter who are building an environment to get me killed. These people claiming to be journalists aren’t apparently working with any media house,” Imtiyaz said.

Seemingly undeterred by the threats, the police officer noted it would be honour to sacrifice his life in the line of duty. “Having been never afraid of death and it would be honour to get sacrificed in the line of duty but the perception being created against me is slanderous. I am one among very few police officers active on social media and being forthright and calling a spade a spade,” he said.

Without naming anyone, he said it was becoming intolerable for them, and their bosses across have employed them to target him. “They want to silence me on social media. They are the same people who have built a case for Shujaat Bukhari’s killing,” he said.

Terrorists had assassinated senior journalist and Editor-in-chief of The Rising Kashmir Syed Shujaat Bukhari along with his guards outside his office at Press Enclave in Partap Park here on July 14 last year.

“Shujaat had confided with me how some media guys had been spreading canards against him and creating a conducive atmosphere for his murder. We being a liberal democracy, such elements take full advantage of our liberal laws, knowing it very well that law can’t touch them,” he said.

Minutes later former director general of police Shesh Paul Vaid, under whom Imtiyaz worked in different capacities took to Twitter assuring the officer of support from the J&K police family.

“Imtiyaz, you are a fine and bold officer who has been putting across the views of the department fearlessly on social media and an officer with high integrity. Have faith in Allah, no harm will come to you. The entire police force has always been behind you,” Vaid said.

Imtiyaz promptly expressed gratitude saying he was not afraid but worried about the smear, maligning & slander campaign against Jammu and Kashmir police and its officers who are bravely fighting proxy war/terrorism for last 30 years with an impeccable record and huge sacrifices. “We aren’t here for any other project except to establish peace,” he said.