Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Commando Protects Indian Journalists

From Thaindian News:
“Main Aap Ki Jaan Bachaane Kay Liye Apni Jaan De Doonga” (I will lay down my life to protect yours)” was the assurance given to delegates at the first regional conference of South Asian Women in Media in Lahore last week by Ali, a commando in-charge of escort and security.

That the delegation had 32 women journalists from India was well known to Ali and he made this statement inside the bus carrying a large number of them.

For him, his duty was the priority and current hostility in Indo-Pak relations was not going to hamper his commitment to protect the Indians in any way. Ali was reassuring the delegates after the news of the army headquarters in Rawalpindi being attacked by terrorists started filtering in.

Ali and his team, along with four other three-member commando teams of Punjab Police were on 12-hour duty each day, relieved by another set of five teams in the night outside the hotel where the delegates were hosted. Every morning, he used to greet the Indians and the Afghans who understood Hindi with a ‘Salaam Alekum’ and bid them goodbye with a ‘Khuda Hafeez’.

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