Kashmir legislator and police give conflicting accounts of altercation

National Conference legislator Altaf Kaloo and Jammu and Kashmir Police have given conflicting accounts of an altercation involving the lawmaker and his personal security officer. Kaloo alleged on Friday that the officer grabbed him by the neck during a confrontation over the officer’s reported absence. He said he had formally reported the absence to officials on Thursday.

According to Kaloo, the personal security officer became angry after the report, used disrespectful language and physically attacked him. He said other security personnel intervened. The legislator said he was considering filing a counter-complaint against the policeman.

He urged the Director General of Police to order an inquiry and take action, adding that statements from several witnesses had already been recorded. The police account differs from Kaloo’s. The officer accused Kaloo and another National Conference leader of assault, and the J&K Police have reportedly lodged a first information report against the legislator for allegedly assaulting a policeman on duty.

The supplied report does not give details of the alleged injuries, identify the second National Conference leader or state whether either side has been arrested. It also does not provide a police statement responding directly to Kaloo’s account. The competing allegations leave the circumstances of the confrontation disputed.

Kaloo has called for an official inquiry, while the reported police case places the legislator under investigation for the alleged assault.