Odisha-Born Cop Helms Peace & Security In Kashmir

Bhubaneswar: Jammu and Kashmir has been under siege and reeling under a complete information blackout since August 5, when the Centre scrapped Article 370 to abrogate the special status to the state.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday also accepted that the present situation was “very sensitive”, while dismissing a petition to seek the lifting of restrictions on media and other modes of communication in J&K. The bench said the Centre should be given reasonable time to ensure normalcy in the state.

The government’s bid to ensure that normalcy returns to the valley is being helmed by Odisha-born IPS officer, SP Pani, who is serving as Inspector General (IG) of Police, Kashmir.

The 2000-batch IPS officer, who took charge in February 2018, broke the trend of all Kashmir IGPs being residents of J&K. An unanimous choice, Pani’s posting was hailed both in the IPS circle and by the CRPF.

He is known as an ‘honest man’ who has ‘the heart in the right place’.

Pani earlier held the fort in the most volatile region of South Kashmir as DIG. He has spent years in NIA and was part of a team which questioned David Coleman Headley in 2010. He also worked briefly in the IB.

Speaking to the media, Pani had earlier denied media reports of firing incidents in the valley, and urged people not to believe “mischievous and motivated news”. “There a couple of localised incidents of law and order, but these were dealt with professionally and people dispersed,” he said.

Pani further said that certain reasonable restrictions have been imposed at some sensitive places. “Depending on the local situation, we have given some relaxation,” he added.

Amid massive security arrangements, the state celebrated Eid-al-Adha also known as Bakr Eid on Monday. In the valley, people flocked to market places during the six hours of relaxation provided for purchases.