The decision a police inspector, who was shot at by suspected terrorists during protests by a stone-pelting mob at Pattan in North Kashmir, not to order return of fire has won plaudits from his seniors and public.
The incident took place at Palhalan, 30km from here, when a youth emerged from a mob and fired at the police personnel injuring the station house officer of Pattan station.
He was shifted to Army hospital where his condition was stated to be out of danger.
Today, Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda and Inspector General (Kashmir) Farooq Ahmed visited him in the hospital and complimented his decision not to return fire which could have otherwise resulted in civilian casualties.
Police maintain that terrorists have been using the mob to camouflage their activities and fire at security personnel for instigating them so that civilians get trapped in the cross fire.
Police had recently arrested Shabir Ahmed Wani, an activist of hardline Hurriyat Conference faction led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, on charges of conspiring with another activist of the same group for taking steps for the killing of at least 10 to 15 people during the stone-pelting protests.
