JAMMU: Not able to find a proper parking space on overcrowded city roads, some of the police officials and their sympathisers have started using the Police Memorial as a makeshift ‘parking lot’ outside the exit gate of Jammu Railway Station.
Some of the motorists, who enjoy the privilege of parking their cars inside the Memorial are also given foolproof commitment of providing round the clock security cover by the ‘men in khaki’.
Though it is a restricted area but on Tuesday this correspondent once again spotted a Maruti car with registration number JK02BE 2971 parked inside the Police Memorial.
Ironically it was not parked near the entry gate of the memorial but right next to the ‘eternal flame’ (Amar Jawan Jyoti).
No commoner can dare drive their vehicles inside the memorial complex unless he or she is directly connected with any higher authority.
It can be safely assumed that the continuing menace could be the handiwork of only some of the well connected policemen who want to take advantage of the vast empty spaces inside the memorial and park their cars under the cover of shadow to avoid direct exposure of the blazing sun while at work. At the time of clicking the picture no visitor was present inside the Memorial to pay homage to the police martyrs so the question of car belonging to any commoner was also ruled out. Now the question arises since it is not a thoroughfare and the gates remain closed who is so powerful and influential enough to force their entry inside the restricted area and make mockery of the sacrifices made by these brave hearts.
Is it not a security risk to allow private motorists to park their cars inside the restricted area? Even the visitors arriving at the Memorial are not extended this facility of parking their vehicles inside.
The State Police Department may have to order a thorough inquiry to find out the identity of the car owners who regularly park their cars inside the Memorial. Earlier on February 13, 2016, a similar report was published by the STATE TIMES highlighting the issue of Police Memorial being converted in to a parking lot.