MUZAFFARABAD, March 20: The AJK government has penalized two police officials, currently under suspension, on recommendation of an inquiry committee, for their handling of an alleged robbery attempt in Mirpur, where a minister’s son was injured in police firing.

The committee was constituted under Removal from Service (Special Powers) Act, 2001.

A notification issued on Wednesday said the competent authority (chief secretary) had approved the punishment of censure, stoppage of increments for three years and promotion for five years to (then) senior superintendent police, Mirpur, Sardar Zaheer Ahmed, under Section 3(1)(f) of the act. Censure and stoppage of promotion for two years to (then) station house officer, Thothal police station, Sardar Bashir Ahmed Khan, was also approved, according to the notification issued by the services and general administration department.

The officials were suspended on Dec 3, 2001, by Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan after a judicial commission held them guilty of irresponsibly tackling the incident, in which AJK Health Minister Sardar Yaqoob Khan’s son was critically injured in police firing. The commission was headed by Mirpur Senior Civil Judge Syed Khalid Gillani.

The operation was executed by Police Deputy Superintendent Raja Nasim Khan, who was also suspended in light of the judicial report. However, the notification was silent on any punishment to him.

The incident, which occurred on Sept 28, 2001, drew wide attention as it involved a minister’s son, Faisal Yaqoob, who suffered serious bullet wounds due to firing by the police when he and his accomplices were standing with their vehicles outside a house in F-II sector. The police claimed they intended to trespass the house for dacoity.

One of the alleged accomplices, Noman, later described by the police as their informer, was also injured.

TRANSFERRED: The AJK government has transferred Palandri Police Superintendent Dr Liaqat Hussain and posted him as anti-corruption SP on the recommendations of the AJK Ehtesab Bureau.