Removal Of Tinted Film From Kashmir VC’s Vehicle Sparks Protest

Srinagar: A controversy has erupted after a police officer removed the black film on the vehicle of Kashmir University Vice Chancellor Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway with the university teachers association condemning the incident.

A DSP stopped Andrabi's vehicle at Udhampur on Sunday and removed the black film on the window panes of the vehicle, which is allowed for vehicles of 'Z' and 'Z plus' protectees.

Andrabi entered into an argument with the police officer who said he was only doing his duty. A video of the incident went viral on social media.

Andrabi told the police officer, "You have not grown out of the colonial culture. If I had my (security) escort with me, you would not have dared to do this".

The police official responded by saying. "I am doing my duty" and that he would do it with any vehicle which did not comply with the rules."

You have not grown out of the colonial culture. If I had my (security) escort with me, you would not have dared to do this

The Supreme Court in 2012 banned use of black films on window glass of the vehicles. Only vehicles of protected persons falling in 'Z' and 'Z Plus' category may be exempted by police.

The incident involving the Vice Chancellor led to Kashmir University Teachers Association (KUTA) condemning the alleged disrespect and ill-treatment meted out to Andrabi by the police officer.

"The officer in uniform, in a brazen violation of Y-security status protocol kept Professor Andrabi waiting on roadside for a long time even when Prof Andrabi introduced himself to the officer,” KUTA said in a statement.

"In a brazen violation of Y security status protocol, which the officer should have been aware of, started scrutinising all the documents pertaining to the vehicle," a spokesman of KUTA said in a statement.

The officer in uniform, in a brazen violation of Y-security status protocol kept Professor Andrabi waiting on roadside for a long time even when Prof Andrabi introduced himself to the officer

KUTA demands a through time-bound probe into the matter, strict action against the erring officer and an unconditional apology, the spokesman said.

Social media users in Kashmir were divided over the incident but some users supported the police officer for doing his duty.

PTI