In February 2018, after jailed Lashker-e-Toiba militant Naveed Jhat, dramatically escaped from Srinagar’s SMHS hospital, leaving behind two dead cops, the then IGP Kashmir Muneer Ahmad Khan, pressed every person at his disposal to locate him. But a day after Khan was successful in arresting four people who according to police helped Jhat escape; Khan was removed as the police chief. For next four months Khan served as ADGP Home Guards and Security. But with Jhat once again in the news for his involvement in journalist Shujaat Bukhari’s murder case, Khan is back too. Two weeks after Bukhari’s gruesome assassination outside his office in Srinagar’s Press Enclave, current IGP SP Pani, addressed a press conference and revealed that Jhat along with two other local Lashkar militants were behind the act.
Two days later Khan was given additional charge as ADGP (Law & Order), as the situation on ground has changed completely since he demitted IGP’s office. Last time when Khan served as IGP, Kashmir still had a formal PDP-BJP collation government headed by Mehbooba Mufti.
The official order, that came days after Governor NN Vohra took reigns of the state, reads that in matter of law and order, the two Zonal IGsP of Kashmir and Jammu shall report to ADGP (Law & Order) under the overall command and control of DGP, J&K. This puts Khan once again in the driving seat, if not at the centre as before.
Khan who has served the State in various capacities, started his journey as Deputy Superintendent of Police for Islamabad. He was posted there for a long time. He has also served as Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Ramban. Khan was then promoted as SSP Baramulla and has also served as SSP Anantnag. He has served as SSP Srinagar too.
Khan served as DIG South Kashmir, North Kashmir and Central Kashmir as well. He was also Inspector General of Traffic Police and IG Crime and was serving as Director Vigilance, before he was made IGP Kashmir.
After assuming the charge of ADGP (Law & Order),Khan visited Amarnath Yatra Baltal Base Camp to review the security arrangements and preparedness for Disaster Management in case of any natural disaster.
With challenges like successful run of Amarnath Yatra, Khan was hand-picked to manage the crisis if any.
…. Tahir Bhat
