Jammu and Kashmir Police
Scripting a Saga of Valour

Dear fellow officers & men of J&K Police,

      It gives me immense pleasure to express my deep appreciation for the remarkable contribution you have made in keeping the flag of Jammu and Kashmir Police aloft, not withstanding the challenges of turbulent situation from time to time. I am overwhelmed by the valour and courage you have demonstrated during just wrapped year in maintaining the law and order and confronting the challenge of terrorism.

        The year 2009 has come to an end. We have to look back and do a sincere and conscientious appraisal of the work performed during this year. As all of us are aware, police has the primary role in maintaining peace and order in society and ensuring dignity and honour of common man. In this endeavor maintenance of public order and security are two important aspects.

        Looking back at 2009, while we have to feel satisfied about our various achievements, but at the same time we have to identify the areas where we could have done better. The performance of Jammu and Kashmir Police on all fronts in year 2009 gives us a reason to genuinely feel proud about our work, but it also gives us an opportunity to ponder and reflect upon our shortcomings and inadequacies so that we discover ways and means to overcome them in year 2010.

Jammu and Kashmir Police has met various challenges successfully every time, especially in the fight against terrorism. To uphold the honour of the organization and to keep the public trust maintained, the force, during the year 2009, faced various challenging situations successfully by displaying exemplary conduct and discipline by its all the ranks. Continuing our efforts to eradicate the menace of terrorism and to create conducive atmosphere in the State, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with other security forces, is constantly maintaining pressure on militants and their mentors.

Over the last 20 years, the morale and confidence of the J&K Police has been built painstakingly and assiduously and its professional skills have helped in restoration of peace and normalcy in the State. With these efforts, the graph of terror violence in the State is rapidly coming down year after year. During 2008, the militancy related violence came down by 35 percent as compared to the year 2007, while during this year the terror violence has dropped by over 25 percent.

 The force withstood the stress of prolonged fight against terror. It continually improved its ability to track down and confront hardcore militants and at the same time ensuring that least inconvenience is caused to the people. 

During the year 2009, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with other security forces, succeeded in eliminating more than 50 self-styled militant commanders of different outfits during various anti-militancy operations. While conducting such operations, our personnel ensured to save life and property of the law-abiding citizens and respect human rights. People from all walks of life hailed the conduct of such operations in a way where no collateral damage was caused and the public has now become our partner in the fight against terrorism.

     After smooth conduct of the State Assembly Elections, to ensure peaceful Parliamentary Elections-2009 in the State was another big task for the Police and with the sincere and dedicated efforts of all ranks of the force these elections were also conducted in a peaceful manner, registering unprecedented turn out of voters. During these elections, a number of VVIPs and VIPs visited the State in connection with the election campaign. Foolproof security cover was provided to all these dignitaries during their frequent visits to various parts of the State.

 Likewise, the visit of Her Excellency the President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and the UPA Chairperson, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi to the State, holding of several national and international conferences and seminars, two-month long Shri Amarnathji Yatra, cross LOC trade and travel, besides some other religious congregations, were concluded successfully in a conducive atmosphere.

Recognizing the performance of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Hon’ble Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh in his address at the Conference of Directors General of Police, held in New Delhi in September 2009, appreciated the role of J&K Police for bringing peace and normalcy in the State. This was a movement of great joy and pride for all ranks of the force.

The Union Home Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram also lauded the efforts of the State Police during his visit to the Kashmir Valley in October last. While recognizing the spectacular performance of the J&K Police he said that during past 20 years of militancy, the State Police met various challenges with courage, dedication and fortitude. Mr. Chidambaram said that there has been a tremendous improvement in security scenario in the State and the number of casualties has come down considerably. He said, “I have convinced the Hon’ble Prime Minister that the State Police has to be in the frontline role while para-military and other security forces will help them from behind”, adding that the people of the State have full faith in the Police and the Union Government is willing to hand over the prime responsibility of tackling the situation to the State Police.

I am very thankful to all ranks of the force who extended their full cooperation and it was, indeed, due to their sincere efforts and dedication that a congenial atmosphere was created for ensuring incident free election campaign by all the national and local political parties and the people exercised their right to franchise fearlessly.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police, emerging one of the best forces in the country, was proud to have been recognized as a symbol of bravery by the Central and the State Governments. During the year, our officers and jawans have been awarded prestigious medals which include 31 President’s Police Medals for Gallantry, 27 President’s Police Medals for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service and 30 Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medals for Gallantry.      

Though to restore lasting peace and complete normalcy in the State is our mission, but to deal with the day-to-day crime and law and order situations is our basic duty. The Police successfully tackled the situation in the Valley during the summer months and foiled the nefarious designs of some anti-national elements, who for their petty interests launched a sinister campaign and propaganda on some murder cases. Using their professional skills and presence of mind to keep the trust of public maintained in the functioning of the State Police, the police solved these mysterious murder cases within shortest possible time and brought the culprits to book. This further boosted the faith of the people in the functioning of the police and its fairness.    

The Jammu and Kashmir Police has been entrusted with the responsibility to provide complete security cover to the Railway in the Valley right from Qazigund to Baramulla. The force is also providing security staff on deputation basis to the Kashmir University, Jammu University and Kishan-Ganga Hydro Electric Project.               

The year 2009 will go down in the annals of the State Police history as the year of recruitment in the Jammu and Kashmir. In order to strengthen the manpower in all the wings of the organization and to provide jobs to the unemployed youth, the Government was kind enough to accord sanction for creation of five more IRP Battalions in the State and also large number of additional posts in the executive police.  Soon after the recruitment was started on fast track basis across the State, it was a challenging task to complete the recruitment process within a record time in a transparent and merit based manner. As many as 7067 candidates were selected as Constables and Followers under this recruitment drive. 

In addition, selection of 520 Sub-Inspectors in various Wings viz Executive, Armed, Auxiliary, Home-guards and Telecommunication is also in progress in all the districts of the State. Further, 61 appointments in the rank of Constables and Followers have been made of those who did outstanding work with the Police and other security forces on anti-militancy front.

  After completion of recruitment process, these new recruits are being sent to various Police Training Institutions for acquainting them with the basic and latest techniques of professional policing. These incumbents would be deployed in different fields to face various challenges and to provide better service to the people of the State.

Recognizing the services of SPOs, the Government has accorded approval to various relaxations for appointing them as Constables and Followers in the department. These include 15 percent reservation in recruitment as well as relaxation in age and educational qualification. This will definitely boost the morale of those SPOs who have served shoulder to shoulder with the jawans of the State Police and other security agencies in bringing the situation on rails in the State. The Central Government has also extended similar facility for absorption of SPOs in Central forces.    

As you are fully aware that for the last two decades, we are fighting militancy and our so many brave jawans and officers, along with the other security force personnel, have given supreme sacrifices of their precious lives for bringing peace and normalcy in the State. I salute those brave martyrs and resolve that to achieve their goal is our mission. The martyrs’ families are members of our Police Parivar and it is our prime duty to support these families. For the purpose, the department has launched a number of welfare schemes.

During the year 2009, Rs. 7.73 crore have been released and paid to the families of the martyrs under various welfare schemes, which include Rs. 5.89 crore as immediate special relief, Rs. 1.29 crore as additional ex-gratia relief, more than Rs. 40 lakhs as ex-gratia relief and over Rs. 17 lakhs as scholarships and financial assistance.    

Besides, 95 compassionate appointments of the eligible wards of the martyrs were made in the department as well as in various other civil departments during the year .

Realizing that the Police personnel are deployed in most difficult and stressful situations, the welfare of jawans and officers is always on top of our agenda, the department is having many schemes for the welfare of the serving as well as the retired personnel, for which a Central Police Welfare Fund has been created. Under these schemes, during the year 2009, about Rs. 45 lakhs have been sanctioned for the welfare of the serving and the retired police personnel and SPOs. This includes more than Rs. 23 lakhs as ex-gratia relief to the injured police personnel and SPOs, more than Rs. 3 lakhs as welfare relief to police personnel in distress and Rs. 20 lakhs for sports activities.

Likewise, scholarship scheme for the meritorious school going children of the serving police personnel has been introduced under which scholarships worth over Rs. 2 lakhs have been distributed among the wards during the year.

To provide quality education to the wards of brave martyrs and other serving personnel is foremost on our minds and agenda. The Police Public Schools established in the two capital cities of the State at Bemina in Srinagar and Miran Sahib in Jammu have been fully equipped with latest education and sports infrastructure facilities. The Primary Police Public Schools established at Kargil and Leh are also getting good response. These schools have also been provided with good infrastructure during the year. Moreover, for the first time, free coaching for the wards of the martyrs and serving police personnel for competing in various professional and competitive examinations is being organized at Srinagar and Jammu by highly qualified experts.

 In an effort to strengthen infrastructure for the Police organization, a mega construction programme has been launched throughout the State. Several buildings and barracks have been constructed at various locations across the State to house the police offices, police stations, police posts and also to provide better residential accommodation to the jawans and the officers.

The new buildings constructed under modernization pogramme in the State are district police office at Bandipore, ASP office-cum-residence at Sopore and multi-storey barracks at Bandipore. Similarly, the barrack accommodation at Police Station, Khour in Jammu, double-storey barracks at Kuligam, Lalpore, Kalaroos, Vilgam, Traffic Check Post at Lower Munda, SHO quarters at Doru and Utrasoo Anantnag have been constructed during the year. Several other construction works are also in the pipeline and will be completed soon.    

The alternate accommodation for security forces in the Kashmir Division was constructed at Yaripora, Devsar, Chadoora, Behibagh, Pulwama, Khanyar, Rainawari, Gurez, Dawar, Lasipora, Kreeri, Leh, Srigufwara, Warunhal, Arizal and commissioned during the year.

Special thrust is being laid to modernize the existing Police Hospitals at Jammu and Srinagar with latest diagnostic and treatment facilities. During the year more than Rs. 35 lakh were spent on purchase of latest diagnostic equipment. Besides introducing laparoscopic surgery facilities, standard medicines from reputed firms have also been procured to provide better medicare to the jawans and their families. Similarly, highly qualified doctors with specialization in various fields and well trained para-medical staff have been made available in these hospitals. The Medical Inspection Rooms at district and unit levels have also been strengthened by posting sufficient trained staff.

The department also organized a national level Conference on Endoscopic Sinonasal and Anterior Skull Base Surgery at Srinagar in which renowned experts from across the country participated.

To provide better career prospects to all ranks in the force and with the creation of additional posts, in all, 4039 promotions have been made in the department during the year. These include two Inspectors General of Police promoted as Additional Directors General of Police, 10 Senior Superintendents of Police as Deputy Inspectors General of Police and 2 Deputy Directors as Directors of Prosecution, while Selection Grade was given to 10 IPS Officers, Junior Administrative Grade to 2 IPS Officers, 6 Chief Prosecuting Offices were promoted as Deputy Directors Prosecution, 8 Deputy Superintendents of Police as Superintendents of Police and 70 Inspectors were promoted as Deputy Superintendents of Police in the gazetted cadre.                                 

Similarly, in the non-gazetted cadre, 166 Sub-Inspectors were promoted as Inspectors, 396 Assistant Sub-Inspectors as Sub-Inspectors, 580 Head Constables as Assistant Sub-Inspectors, 1266 Selection Grade Constables as Head Constables and 845 Constables as Selection Grade Constables.  

 In order to strengthen the security grid and to successfully face the latest challenges of militancy, special emphasis is being laid to equip the security wing with latest weaponry, mobility and security gadgets. During the year, for this purpose, more than Rs. 5.38 crore have been spent. Likewise, to introduce latest Information Technology and to provide electronic equipment to the police offices, more than Rs. 1.23 crore have been spent during the period.

The state-of-art Information Technology Centre with Intranet Mail Portal and Conferencing facility has been made functional at Police Headquarters in Jammu and Srinagar. This high-tech centre has connectivity with zones, ranges and district police headquarters in the State. This facility is helping in a big way in sharing data with zones and districts across the State. The J&K Police Headquarters will be connected with the Police Headquarters of other States of the country shortly with the help of this IT Centre. 

In view of the latest challenges faced from terrorism, organized crime groups, inter-state crimes, narco-trafficking and terrorist funding, training courses with regard to advanced domain knowledge and special technological skills have become imperative to defeat such threats. Training was re-oriented in areas like crime detection, investigation, law and order problems. Greater emphasizes has been laid on upgrading the Police Training Institutions across the State to train the police personnel with sophisticated technology and advanced weaponry for their deployment for performing professional duties for which conventional training and curricula, wherever required, is being modified, as per the latest requirements.

During the year, several training courses including basic training courses, promotion courses and specialized courses were organized in different Police Training Institutions of the State in which 5950 jawans and officers received training in different skills. Presently, more than 1400 police personnel are undergoing different training courses at various training institutions in the State. In addition to this, 354 jawans and officers attended different special training courses outside the State and abroad.

To give new orientation to the training initiatives for equipping the officers and jawans with the latest techniques and skills for better police functioning, the Sher-i-Kashmir Police Academy, Udhampur organized many seminars and workshops during the year in collaboration with Bureau of Police Research and Development, Union Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi. These programmes were attended by renowned experts from outside the State who delivered their lectures on various professional subjects which helped in enhancing the professional efficiency of the police officers and jawans.

Keeping in view the heavy growth of vehicular traffic in major cities of the State and to improve the traffic management for facilitating the public, the traffic website was launched at Traffic Headquarters in Jammu and Srinagar during the year. The website contains data with regard to various traffic related matters to create greater awareness among the people. A traffic journal depicting the data about vital statistics of road surface was also released and traffic complaint booths established at various prominent places in the cities of Srinagar and Jammu, which have yielded good response from the public.

Besides, our professional duties, Jammu and Kashmir Police is taking many steps to promote sports culture in the organization. During the year, the department conducted a number of national and international tournaments in Jammu and Srinagar, which include 8th All India Water Sports Championship, 10th All India Police Martyrs Football Tournament, 10th All India Police Lawn Tennis Championship and 3rd All India Police Martyrs Hockey Tournament. In these tournaments, the J&K Police teams established their identity and bagged many medals, including emerging as number one team in the country. Our Mountaineering Team also got recognition by scaling the famous Kinneer Kailash Peak in Himachal Pradesh and Kolhai Peak in Pahalgam this year after successfully scaling Mount Everest last year. Our Football Team also lifted the championship trophy in prestigious 10th All India Police Martyrs Football Tournament.

To promote people-friendly image and to strengthen relations with the public, two Police-Public Melas were organized at Srinagar and Jammu during the year. The melas received overwhelming response from the public. Goods on reasonable rates were sold by the Police Welfare Centres and various other stall holders in these melas to help the police families working at these centres.

Apart from professional duties, Jammu and Kashmir Police is also discharging its social responsibilities. The organization has undertaken many activities under civic action programme, which act as a bridge between the police and the people and present humane face of the force.

Under this programme, we have a wide spectrum of activities which include organizing sports events, medical camps, distribution of study material, construction of mini-stadiums and financial assistance to orphanages and blind homes.

 During the year 2009, the department organized North and South Zone Sports Festivals at district headquarters of Baramulla and Anantnag. Mini-stadiums are being developed at district headquarters under this programme to promote sports culture among the youth.                

Moreover, a de-addiction camp is being run at Police Hospital Srinagar, treating hundreds of patients, which has been hailed by the people of all walks of life. ENT workshop was hosted at Police Hospital Srinagar, which was followed by observing International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.                

To provide specialized training to the Civil Defence wardens, volunteers and the police personnel, the department is establishing two Central Training Institutes of Home-guards and Civil Defence at Srinagar and Jammu for which Rs. 2.50 crore have been kept at the disposal of the Development Authorities for the already identified land. A process is also being initiated to have a similar facility at the district level.

To revamp the Civil Defence Wing, two Water Rescue Teams at Doda in Jammu and Dal Lake in Srinagar have been raised. In addition, two State Disaster Response Companies have also been raised and trained during the year.   

With a view to strengthen the Civil Defence Wing of the department, a high level Civil Defence Wardens’ Conference was organized at Srinagar in which prominent speakers from all over the State threw light  on the role and activities of the Civil Defence. At this conference, 14 Wardens were awarded for being the best adjudged speakers and also for their excellent work in the field of Civil Defence.

Jammu and Kashmir Home-guards and Civil Defence is organizing various programmes to create awareness among the people regarding the steps to be taken during natural calamities. The wing has prepared documentary films on natural and man made disasters which have been exhibited in various educational institutions to create awareness among the school children about these disasters.

To generate awareness among the masses about traffic rules, road accidents, earthquakes, diseases, drug abuse, fire fighting, snow avalanches and collapsing of buildings, demonstration camps were organized at various locations across the State during the year.              

I am fully aware about the situations and hardships in which you are discharging your professional duties. I have tried to minimize these hardships within the available resources and there is further scope to do much in this area. I assure you that to create better career prospects for all ranks in the force will be one of my top priorities. Special thrust will be given to strengthen the welfare measures and to meet the requirements of the police personnel and martyr’s families.

Let us once again devote ourselves to the service of the nation ignoring our personal comforts. We have to continue our fight against terror with full might and determination and at the same time serve the people of the State with a renewed zeal to make Jammu and Kashmir a most peaceful State in the country.

I wish a happy “New Year” to all of you and your families, with full confidence that the Jammu and Kashmir Police will achieve new heights of glory in its service to the people of the State during the year 2010.                                 

Happy New Year.