Srinagar: Days after a special police officer (SPO) decamped with seven rifles and a pistol from the residence of a People’s Democratic Party MLA in the Jawahar Nagar area of Srinagar, the Jammu and Kashmir police department ordered the withdrawal of SPOs performing duties as personal security officers (PSOs) of “protected persons”.
PSO, just like their counterparts, work on an honorarium basis, but there duties are limited to guarding protected persons such as politicians, senior police officers, bureaucrats or individuals who are under threat
“It has been observed that some SPOs are performing PSO duties and all SPOs except SPO drivers, presently attached with protected persons be immediately withdrawn,” additional director general of police Munir Khan said in a communication sent to all district SSPs and the SSP Security Jammu/Kashmir.
Khan has also ordered that no unit/district SSP will deploy any SPO for personal security officer duties.
Furthermore, range deputy inspector generals have been asked to furnish a list of all SPOs to the headquarters by October 5 ‘positively’ .
“In case any SPO not reports back, honorarium may not be released and nominal roll of such SPOs be furnished to this headquarter so that their disengagement orders are issued.”
Special police officers have been directed not to perform duties of personal security officers of Senior #Kashmir police officials.SPO’s working with Protected persons immediately withdrawn.This comes after a massive campaign by Hizbul Mujahideen to target lower ranking police… pic.twitter.com/hi2p3jZDX3
— Azaan Javaid (@AzaanJavaid) October 3, 2018
The development comes in the midst of a major campaign by the Hizbul Mujahideen against lower ranking policemen. In late September, militants uploaded pictures of over one dozen SPOs on social media asking them to post videos of themselves resigning from the police force or face consequences.
As a result, over two dozen SPOs posted “resignation videos”, particularly in the south Kashmir, prompting the government to shut down internet in portions of the area.
Also read: In Kashmir, Abductions and Intelligence Warfare Cause a Major Churning Within the Police
The Union home ministry said no policeman has resigned in Jammu and Kashmir and described such reports as “false propaganda” by “mischievous” elements.
However, a senior J&K police officer said that the ministry was right while saying that no policeman has resigned as none of those who uploaded their videos on social media dissociating themselves from the police force had done any paperwork.
“They would have to provide a legitimate reason for their resignation while completing their paper work,” said the officer.
Also read: Kashmir’s Policemen, Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place
While the state and Centre were dealing with this problem, an SPO, Adil Bashir, decamped with seven rifles and the licensed pistol of a PDP MLA from the legislator’s official residence on Friday last week.
The incident has sent the entire security establishment into a tizzy, locking down the city in an attempt to prevent the SPO taking the guns to militant groups.
Hours later, pictures of the SPO along with some Hizbul Mujahideen militants holding the stolen guns became viral on social media.
The J&K police has also constituted a Special Investigation Team to investigate the incident.
Azaan Javaid in a Kashmir-based journalist and has previously reported from New Delhi for Hindustan Times, DNA, Deccan Herald, Statesman and Caravan magazine. He has covered Ministry of Home Affairs, Central Bureau of Investigation, National Investigation Agency, Enforcement Directorate and major crimes in North India.