Author: Mohit Kandhari
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: August 3, 2010
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/273435/JK-police-on-'house'-duty.html
In the wake of a fresh spell of violence in
parts of Kashmir Valley, the State police department is finding it difficult
to fully utilise its own manpower to restore law and order on ground zero.
A source said, "A significant number
of State police jawans - currently deployed on security duties to protect
politicians, sitting Ministers, retired bureaucrats, former MLAs, retired
police officers and several others - are not in a position to help senior
police officers despite their urgent requirement."
The police department is feeling the pinch
despite CRPF jawans being stationed in Kashmir to quell angry protests, protect
Government buildings and assist the State force.
Even Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday
raised the issue of augmenting the strength of the Central paramilitary troops
during his meeting with the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Defence Minister
in New Delhi. He was assured by the Union Government of rushing in specialised
anti-riot police force in the Valley to restore normalcy.
Meanwhile, question marks have been raised
over the absence of a large number of State police jawans from their real
duties.
A majority of these jawans are either stationed
as orderlies inside the residences of senior police officers and important
functionaries of the State Government, including defeated candidates and prominent
businessmen. They do unproductive jobs such as escorting their families to
marketplaces, dropping their children to school, purchasing groceries and
looking after the gardens.
Though the exact number of jawans diverted
for these duties was not known, rough estimates suggest their number could
be as high as 5,000 - a significant figure in the troubled Valley.
Engaged in menial jobs at the behest of powers
that be, these jawans are of no use to the police force under present circumstances,
according to a senior police officer. "These jawans are a largely untrained
lot, never deployed on ground for law and order duties and hence cannot be
trusted or deployed for such sensitive assignments," the police officer
added.
According to official sources, 55 battalions
of the CRPF are deployed in the Kashmir Valley and out of this, 49 companies
have been diverted for the Amarnath Yatra duty to ensure an incident-free
pilgrimage. The already overstretched paramilitary forces are not in a position
to divert more men for law and order duties.
However, experts feel that at a time even
when fresh police recruits undergoing training in the State have been deployed
on ground, it is imperative to relieve State police jawans from 'house' duties
and let them take up the real duties of enforcing order in the Valley.
