Srinagar: Police has ruled out any action against the security guards of former Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmad Khan, who is on the run after a local court issued arrest warrant against him for allegedly trying to molest a lady doctor last week.
“There has been no security lapse in this case. The onus is on the former minister, who abandoned his PSOs and the escort and went into hiding. There was no dereliction in duty by his security cover,” a top official of the security wing (police), insisting not to be named, told Kashmir Reader on Wednesday.
The tainted minister, the officer said, dodged his security component and has gone into hiding. He said the PSOs are meant to provide security cover to a ‘VIP’, but they cannot intrude into the privacy of the protected person.
“He left the security guards in dark. If he abandoned his security cover and left with malafide intentions, how would it qualify for security lapse,” he said, adding “Normally protected persons complain about the security cover. However, in this case there is no mistake of the security guards.”
However, the officer said, the categorisation and the security status of Khan has not been affected. He said the return of the security component was a temporary stand down.
“PSOs and escort has reported back to the security lines Jammu. If the protected person is not available at his residential house or office, what’s the fun of keeping security there,” the officer said.
Police filed a case against Khan under RPC sections of 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) at the Police station Shaheed Gunj here on Thursday last following a complaint by the lady doctor.
In the complaint, the lady doctor has alleged that Khan tried to molest her inside the chamber in Civil Secretariat here. Khan, a senior Congress leader from Jammu region, was here in connection with Winter Secretariat.
The doctor has alleged that she was called on the pretext that minister wanted to know about the recent announcements made by the Indian Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad regarding the hospital where the lady doctor is posted.
The doctor has alleged that she was asked to sit in a small cabin during which the minister made some objectionable advances and remarks aimed at outraging her chastity. The doctor has also alleged that while she managed to escape from the spot, the minister asked her to visit his guest house and serve him ‘kehwah’ in the same manner in which she had served the special tea to Azad during latter’s visit to hospital recently.

Reader correspondent