Shortage of IGPs afflicts J&K Police

JAMMU: At one hand its officers are leading from the front the fight against organised crime and maintaining law and order, the prevailing policy of Jammu and Kashmir Police has contributed to a shortage of Inspector General of Police (IGP) level officers in the state.

“The state has total 19 IGP level officers but half of them are on central deputation. Despite the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is sensitive state witnessing spurt in violence both in Kashmir as well as Jammu region, the state government is continuously sending more officers on central deputation,” an authoritative source told The News Now.

“We are already facing shortage of IGP level officers in the state. Instead of repatriating officers back to the state, more IGP level officers are being sent to Central deputation,” he said.

“If we had more officers the government would have a better choice to post efficient officers at plum postings,” the source said.

He added that the police department will be left with only 8 IGP officers as IGP Kashmir S P Pani is proceeding on a central deputation by the end of this month,”

Meanwhile, there are several probable officers to take over new IGP Kashmir in next month.
“Among the front runners is Vijay Kumar, who is being relieved as IG Cobra in CRPF and will be repatriated to the state,” the source said.

Kumar is well versed with counterinsurgency operations. He has served as SP Pulwama, Awantipora, and Kulgam districts and DIG north Kashmir. He has also supervised anti-Naxal operations in Chatisgarh.

Similarly, there are several other officers, whose names are being considered for the IGP post.

“Alok Kumar-IGP Traffic, Surinder Kumar Gupta Director SSG, S Ahfadul Mujtaba-IGP Crime, J&K, are other probable officers for the post of IGP Kashmir,” the source said.

Similarly, Additional Director General of Police incharge Security, Law and Order and Home Guards, Muneer Ahmad Khan is reaching superannuation on June 30.

A high-level selection committee has recommended him for the post of Information Commissioner in the State Information Commission.

Meanwhile, the government has initiated a hunt for new divisional commissioner of Kashmir and has been finalising probable officers for these posts.

Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan is retiring on June 30 this year. He was appointed as Divisional Commissioner Kashmir on July 29, 2016.

In February this year, a search panel recommended his name for Ombudsman in Urban Local Bodies. However formal orders are yet to be issued.

The government is considering several officers to be his successor.

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