*JKP requires thousands of constables, over 400 SIs
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 3: Unbeliev-able it may sound but it is a fact that large number of Police Stations and Police Posts in sensitive State of Jammu and Kashmir are under-staffed thereby affecting the functioning of these basic contact points of the people. Moreover, no headway has so far been made on implementation of a House Panel report on establishment of new Police Stations, Police Posts and Police Sub-Divisions since December 2013.
The Police Station or Police Post is the first contact point of people in distress as such effective functioning at these levels is important for building public confidence but this aspect is not being looked into with the required seriousness.
This can be gauged from the fact that large number of Police Stations and Police Posts in Jammu and Kashmir are reeling under the shortage of manpower. What to talk of Police Stations and Police Posts in far-off areas, the manpower strength in Police Stations and Police Posts in urban areas is also grim, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
No doubt there are many Police Stations and Police Posts which have sufficient number of personnel but the same is also not in consonance with the strength as is defined in the rules governing the functioning of police, sources further said while attributing this to delay in recruitments and clearance of the proposals at various levels in the Government.
“Moreover, there are reports that the successive Governments focused more on spending funds at the headquarters level police set-up instead of Police Stations and Police Posts, which otherwise are the face of the entire police force”, sources further said.
Stating that J&K Police requires thousands of constables for deployment in the Police Stations and Police Posts, sources said, “this aspect is being ignored despite the fact that J&K is still fighting militancy besides increasing incidents of crime of different nature”, adding “what to talk of constables, the JKP is also in the dire need of Sub-Inspectors and the number is estimated to be around 400”.
A senior officer of the Home Department, when contacted, said, with the completion of process for recruitment of 4000 constables and over 400 Sub-Inspectors, which has recently been set into motion, the manpower constraints would overcome up to large extent. But, he failed to specify any time-frame for completion of this exercise in view of involved lengthy process.
He, however, admitted that sufficient number of manpower is required to be deployed keeping in view increasing role of police in maintenance of law and order and in other important activities.
Moreover, no headway has so far been made on the recommendations of a Panel of State Legislature, which had stressed for re-organization of existing Police Stations and creation of new ones.
The Departmental Related Standing Committee-IV on Home Department, in its meeting held in the Legislative Council Secretariat in the month of December 2013, had threadbare discussion on the requirement of new Sub-Divisions, Police Stations and Police Posts.
In the meeting, it was noted that there was no uniformity in the jurisdiction of existing Police Stations in Jammu and Kashmir with large number of Police Stations having area of operation much bigger than adjoining Police Stations as a result of which people have been facing many difficulties in approaching the Police Stations.
Moreover, it was also observed that huge area of operation was also affecting maintenance of law and order, prevention of crime and protection of life and property of citizens.
After thorough discussion on the issue with the senior police officers, the Departmental Related Standing Committee had recommended creation of new Police Stations on the felt requirements and reorganization of the existing Police Stations.
“A formal proposal was sought from the Police Headquarters and subsequently the same was placed before the Finance Department for concurrence but the latter turned down the proposal on the ground of financial constraints”, an officer of the Home Department said, adding “recently, the Police Headquarters has once again been requested to change the earlier proposal and reflect extremely felt requirement in the new proposal for placement before the Finance Department”.
Moreover, there is no attention towards implementation of resolutions of the All India Police Science Congress vis-à-vis increasing strength of women police personnel in the State Police Force.
This was recommended on the ground that availability of adequate women police personnel will reduce the vulnerability of women becoming victims of crime. It was recommended in the year 2013 that each Police Station should have women police component with at least two women police officers and two women constables.
But, majority of Police Stations in Jammu and Kashmir lack women police component and whenever the need arises the women police personnel are requisitioned either from the Women Police Stations, whose number is otherwise very less, or from the District Police Lines.
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