ANOTHER NAIL IN BJP’S COFFIN
State Times News
JAMMU: Suffering hugely at the hands of Kashmir-centric rulers for the past nearly seven decades, Jammu continues to grapple with chronic discrimination even as the self-proclaimed BJP messiahs are partnering the government with the PDP. The brazen example of discrimination was unfolded by the Minister for Home, in this case the Chief Minister, when the Legislative Assembly was given break-up about the recruitment of Special Police Officers (SPOs), sanctioned in the midst of the 2016 Kashmir Unrest by the Union Home Ministry.
With the BJP at driving seat, the candidates from the Jammu region had expected justice, if not the preferential treatment, as has been the forte of the Valley all these years. The known rubble rousers during their days in the Opposition, the BJP not only belied the hopes of the young aspirants for jobs in the police but also betrayed them by way of ‘carrying the process of selection’ notwithstanding the fact that nearly 4,000 SPOs have been selected in the Kashmir process. It was not however disclosed in the Assembly whether these 4,000 Valley recruits include the stone pelters who held peace as hostage and put the normal activity across the State out of gear.
For the peace-loving Jammu youth, the Minister for Home had only to say that the process for recruitment is underway. Negation of the aspirations of the Jammu youth apart, the latest dose of discrimination with Jammu has all the potential to be yet another nail in the coffin of the fast decaying BJP.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has completed the entire process for engagement of over 4,000 Special Police Officers (SPOs) across the Kashmir Valley while the candidates from Jammu region are still in wait.
“The process of engaging SPOs is still underway and likely to be completed soon”, the Minister incharge State Home Department on Friday informed the Legislative Assembly in a written reply.
The Minister in-charge Home said that the government has issued engagement orders for 3,891 SPO’s across 11 districts of Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Leh, Kargil, Baramulla, Bandipora,Anantnag, Pulwama,Shopian and Kulgam.
However, the process for engagement of SPOs in Jammu zone is underway and shall be completed soon, the minister informed the House in the reply.
These SPO’s were being engaged by the State Government after the Union Home Ministry conveyed sanction for engagement of additional 10,000 SPO’s in the State Police Department. The process was set in motion by the Police Headquarters in the first week of November 2016.
Out of 10,000 posts, 4,500 SPOs were allotted to 10 districts across the Kashmir Province while 11,00 were allotted to Jammu and 100 each to Leh and Kargil districts. In addion, 4,200 SPO posts were kept as operational reserve to meet out any emergency or demand arising out of law and order problem and any other issues particularly related to cross-border terrorism, after assessing the ground requirement of a particular area.
According to the Minister, the highest number of 700 SPOs were engaged in Baramulla, followed by 664 in Srinagar and 600 in Anantnag.
Prior to the engagement of these SPOs, the State had 23,120 SPOs-8,161 posted in Kashmir, 14,746 in Jammu and 213 in Ladakh.
In addition to engaging SPOs, the State Government also recruited 3,622 Constables through Recruitment Board. Of these, 1,881 Constables were recruited in Kashmir province, 1,661 from Jammu and 80 from two districts of Ladakh.
The maximum number of 486 Constables were recruited from Jammu followed by 307 from Ananatnag, 293 from Baramulla, 260 from Srinaagr and 256 from Kupwara. 61 cases of SRO-43 were also cleared for the appointment of Constables while 51 followers were engaged, 338 constables were appointed on operational ground and eight followers were inducted in the police department.
