Official Peace

Pravin Sawhney and Ghazala Wahab

Srinagar: From phone to the file to the phone again. Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir range, Munir Ahmad Khan has no time to even breathe. Without looking up from the papers he was going through, he says, “This will continue, you can ask your questions.”

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir range, Munir Ahmad Khan

Then the phone rang again.

“What? Where? How many? Which group? Has the operation begun? I will be there shortly. No, I will call her myself,” putting down one phone he picks up another and makes a call.

“An encounter has begun in Tral... Looks like two boys. No, the tanzeem is not known right now... Tell your boys… Put down the mobile towers… Yes, all, except the BSNL. Yes, immediately. I have some people with me, I will leave once I am through. No, I will call her now.”

He picks up the third phone. “Get me the chief minister,” he barks.

Finally, he looks up.

“A contact has been made in Tral,” he explains. The intercom buzzes. “Yes, connect me,” he says, rising up from his chair. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehboo