JK police strengthened to reduce dependence on central forces

Srinagar, Jan 15: Jammu and Kashmir police has been strengthened with around 11,000 Special Police Officers (SPOs) in the last two years.
The strength of state police has reached to over 90,000. Official figures accessed by The Kashmir Monitor reveal that highest recruitment was done in Kashmir Valley during 2016 and 2017 of 8992 SPOs.
At the same time, 1459 appointments of SPOs were made in Jammu region. While 309 SPOs were appointed in various other wings of the JK police.
An official of the Home Department said that JK police witnessed highest recruitment in the last two years while comparing with the earlier years.
“The process was started during the 2016 unrest in Kashmir,” the official said.
In 2010, the number of police personnel who were recruited was 1250, while as it was significantly lesser in subsequent years and was 452 in 2011, 266 in 2012, 419 in 2013, 39 in 2014, 74 in 2015.
In the last two years, highest recruitment of SPOs in Kashmir has been done in Srinagar district (1275), followed by Kupwara (1117), and Budgam (1084).
At least 859 recruitments have been made in Baramulla, Anantnag 812, Pulwama 695, Kulgam 531, Sopore 518, Ganderbal 505, Shopian 318, Handwara 275, Awantipora 190, Leh 108, and Kargil 107.
A senior police official said the state remains dependent on central police forces and the army even when there is a “minor law and order” problem in the state.
“The state had inadequate police personnel. Government has been making recruitment in the J&K police at a large scale and strengthening its training infrastructure to reduce the dependence on central forces,” the police official said.
The government has also constituted a high level committee by Chief Secretary for speedy implementation of the ‘Modernization of Police Forces’ scheme in the state.
The objective of the scheme is to gradually reduce the dependence on the Army and the central armed police forces to control “internal security, law and order situations” by equipping the state police forces adequately and strengthening their training infrastructure.
The scheme has been started for providing cops with secure police stations, training centers, police housing (residential), equipping the police stations with the required mobility, modern weaponry, communication equipment and forensic set-up.