For grateful nations, paying homage to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in its service is a matter of pride and honour. It was befitting for the State to pay homage to the martyrs of J&K Police on Police Martyrs’ Day. The martyrs laid down their lives while protecting the people from attacks from terrorists. Led by the Chief Minister of the State, a galaxy of ministers, bureaucrats and higher echelons of Police Department laid wreath at the Police Martyrs’ memorial. It was a sombre occasion to remember and salute those who made the supreme sacrifice of their lives for the nation. The history of sacrifices of the State Police in combating terrorism during last two decades, and handling situations of great crisis that arose from time to time, will be written in letters of gold.
Paying tribute to the martyrs, the Chief Minister recalled that the force had to perform two functions that stood at variance from each other. The police had to wield a gun in one hand to fight the terrorist, and a stick in the other hand to maintain law and order in the State. Thus the police man had to be trained not only in fighting the enemy of the people but also in helping the people maintain law and order in society. The type of proxy war unleashed by our enemy is one that demands close cooperation between the police and the army. This put additional burden on the shoulders of our police force which they very ably discharged and with great laurels. Nobody will contradict the assertion of the Chief Minister that our police force is one of the most disciplined organizations among security forces of the country. In the period of insurgency, our police force personnel have been the main targets of the terrorists. As such the police suffered a large number of casualties while challenging the terrorists. The terrorists attacked police personnel and police posts only to demoralize the police and thus affect the administration very adversely. However, the patriotic force stuck to their duty and their posts no matter howsoever the threat and intimidation from the adversary. The terrorists and separatists tried another mode of maligning the State Police. They often raked up the bogey of violation of human rights by the police. In a number of cases our adversaries furnished false and fabricated reports and footages to the NGOs only to malign the police. Notwithstanding such slander, the police performed its duty with utmost dedication and devolution, strictly adhering to laws and rules that govern the prospect of managing law and order in the State. Many a time the police had to take calculated risk so that during the process of challenging the terrorists, minimum damage was inflicted to the civil society. When militants hurl grenades at a crowded place or in a congested market, it is the police that is the first to bear the brunt. Not feeling discouraged, the police personnel carry the grievously wounded civilians to the hospital, pacify the infuriated crowds, remove women, children and old persons to safer places and cordon off the site. The police have rendered great service in collecting intelligence about the movement of the militants in urban and rural areas and establishing contacts with authorities in locating and identifying the militants. These are all risky jobs and only people who have proficiency and a sense of service to the nation are able to deliver. All this credit goes to the police force.
It is very appropriate for the Chief Minister and the Police Chief to recognize the responsibility of the Government in providing relief and other necessary facilities to the family members of the martyred policemen. They assured the next of kin and family members of the martyrs that the Government will continue providing relief to the family members besides the ex-gratia payments as approved under rules. During the current year the department paid more than seventy-five lakh rupees to the affected families by way of relief in addition to 1.5 crore rupees by way of ex-gratia to the next of kin. Scholarship for continuing their education has been paid to 440 orphaned children of police martyrs and about 50,000 rupees have been paid by way of help to the daughters of the martyred policemen for solemnizing their marriage. The Chief Minister said that the Government was contemplating increase in the ex-gratia relief and other perks for the policemen who lay down their lives while on duty. This was not an obligation but the responsibility of the nation and would be given with thanks.
It has to be recalled that our police organization has moved upwards in terms of service, performance, paraphernalia and infrastructure. The Government has brought in healthy and sensible police reforms to modernize the organization. Service rules stand modified so that more facilities are provided to the policemen. In terms of training and necessary equipment, there is a lot of improvement. The force is imparted lessons and training in mob controlling tactics using minimum force with maximum output. For better, healthier and more improve life, police colonies have been established and corporate living among the families of policemen has been encouraged. The police have public dealing and as such a new atmosphere of cooperation and comradeship between the police and the civil society has developed, which reflects a changing scenario of our civil society.
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