Last year, around this time, a grand Air Show was organized for the first time ever in Srinagar to mark 75 years of India’s Independence.
Given the security risks involved in the area, it was not an easy task to conduct such a show. But thanks to IPS officer Tanu Shree and her management, the show took place without any security breach or scare. For this effort, she was decorated with the Indian Air Force commendation disc by AOC-INC Western Air Command.
During an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, Ms. Tanu Shree, who is currently posted as SSP of Shopian, shared her experiences of the landmark event.
FLAWLESS EVENT
The occasion was huge and so was the challenge. Ms. Tanu Shree was then posted as SP, East-Srinagar, and the venue for the air show was under her control. She was not only in charge of security but also managed logistics support for police and Air Force and coordinated with administration for the show. The aircraft were taking off from various places in the Valley and maintaining security at each place was difficult.
Sharing the experiences, she said, “During September and October, lots of civilian killings were happening. So, security was a major concern. We had to prepare for the worst circumstances but, with support and hard work of our force, we managed everything. The show was flawless and no mishap happened.”
POLICING IN THE VALLEY IS DIFFERENT
Ms. Tanu Shree has her roots in Jamui, Bihar, and comes from a police family. Her father Subodh Prasad was also an IPS officer. Getting J&K cadre meant tough and challenging situations for her but she is managing them very well.
When asked about the challenges, she said, “Policing in J&K is very different than any other place in our country. We have to continuously work in operations, generate actionable intelligence and deal with terrorism on a daily basis. Every now and then, civilians, mostly Kashmiri Pandits and non-local labourers, are getting targeted by terrorists. We try our best but it is impossible to provide security to every individual. Besides this, we have to work and coordinate with other forces which are stationed here.”
She also mentioned that in the last few years, the situation has turned for the better. Terrorism is still a challenge but the strikes and other such protest activities of civilians have decreased. This has given police time to start community outreach programmes and bridge the gap between people and the forces.
