Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 3: To ensure protection for its men and in view of the recent killing of policemen in Budgam and Soura area of the Kashmir valley, the police have asked men and officers to wear bulletproof jackets when on duty.
Two policemen were killed in different attacks in Kashmir last week. Constable Kultar Singh was killed outside the historic Chrar-e-Sharif shrine in central Kashmir's Budgam district. While as constable Farooq Ahmed Yatoo was killed when unidentified gunmen fired on him in Soura locality of Srinagar.Yatoo, was posted as a guard at the residence of separatist leader Fazal Haq Qureshi who had survived an attempt on his life in 2009.
"Though the police department has issued bulletproof jackets to Jawans, but it has been obseved that many of them don't bother to wear them. Now directions have been passed about the importance of wearing bullet-proof jackets," one of the top police officials in police department wishing anonmity told Early Times.
He said that policemen previously used these jackets only during the encounters.However, in view of the recent attacks on police personnel, we want that police forces should strictly wear them so that they remain safe during the duty hours.
The official said that lot of other things are being procured to modernize the police force.
The police chief has recently said that over 18,000 bullet-proof jackets and 550 vehicles were purchased during the year 2017. "As many as 18,100 bullet-proof jackets and 550 different vehicles, which also include bullet-proof vehicles, have been purchased by the police department during the year 2017 for the safe and secure mobility of officers and Jawans in the state", SP Vaid has said.
According to official police data, more than 26 cops were killed in the attacks in Kashmir last year.
The state government recently has informed the legislative Assembly that 48 police personnel have laid their lives in the line of duty in last two years.
The government has said that during 01.01.2016 to 31.12 2016, 17 police personnel including two Assistant sub inspectors were killed while as during 2017 w.e.f 01.01.2017 to 31.12.2017, 26 including one sub- inspector were killed.
The government has further said that 5 SPO's also lost their lives during 2017.
In order to modernize and enhance the capicity building of the Jammu and Kashmir police for meeting the various challenges to internal security in the form of militancy, the government has said that Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India from the year 2000- 2001 notified the " Modernization of state police forces scheme" with the objectives of, intra- alia, training and fully equipping the police Forces with the latest weaponry, improved housing facilities, safe and secured police stations and to modernize police communication.
The government has further said that PHQ, has been able to purchase operational vehicles (both BR and Non BR), security equipment including body armour like BR jackets, BR Pathkas, BR Helmets, Ballistic Group Shield, explosive detection devices, night vision devices, jammer system, access control system, rescue equipments, surveillance equipment Etc. |
