New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir government will soon set up a 1,000-member strong
state volunteer force to assist police to tackle militancy in the state.
State Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed said the police would also be made self-
sufficient in dealing with the menace of terrorism and efforts were afoot to
modernise the force.
"We have started modernising the state police besides strengthening it with more
personnel so that they can deal with the militancy also," Sayeed said.
He said a 1,000-member Jammu and Kashmir Volunteer Force comprising special police
officers would be formed soon, which would be helping the police stations in dealing
with all terrorist-related crimes.
The SPOs were formed by the previous Farooq Abdullah government at a monthly stipend
of Rs 1,500. They were entrusted with guarding the politicians only.
"As per our plans, these members would undergo a three-month rigorous training.
After completion they would be sent to various police stations for assistance,"
Sayeed said.
Besides this, two battalions of Indian Reserve Police Force would be created and
filling of vacancies in the state police would be completed on a war-footing. "This
will provide employment to nearly 3,000 youths in the state," he said.
In another development, the Chief Minister said the Centre has agreed to remove the
freeze on filling the vacancies in various Central government offices, which had
been lying vacant since the exodus of Kashmiri Pundits to safer places in
1989.
PTI
