SRINAGAR: At least 1622 policemen including 490 Special Police Officer (SPOs) have been killed in over 28-year long militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.
“From last 28 years, state is battling militancy. The State police along with other security agencies is working to root out the militancy and restore peace and law and order in the State,” J&K Director General of Police (DGP), S P Vaid said while addressing a Police Commemoration Day, here today.
The militancy broke out in the State in 1989 after the “rigging” in 1987 State Assembly elections.
Vaid said J&K police and security forces in last 28 years of militancy have suffered casualties.
“J&K also suffered casualties while dealing with the militancy. We lost 1001 policemen, 490 Special Police Officers (SPOs) and 131 Village Defence Committee (VDC) members in 28 years of militancy,” the police chief said.
Among the dead policemen include a DIG, an SP, 20 DySPs, 24 Inspectors, 34 Sub Inspectors (SIs), 63 Assistant Sub Inspectors (ASIs), 142 head constables, 166 senior-grade constables, 520 constables and 20 followers.
Vaid said the police managed to contain the situation in the Valley following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8 last year due to sacrifices of policemen and better efforts by the police.
The Kashmir witnessed over five months long unrest last year after killing of Burhan. At least 94 people were killed and over 12000 injured in security forces firing on protestors during the unrest in the Valley.
The police chief said the stone pelting incidents have come down due to policing.
“Besides, many top militant commanders have been killed in encounters with police and other security forces in the Valley this year,” he said.
Over 160 militants including a dozen top commanders have been killed in security forces operations in Valley this year so far.
Vaid said from September 1, 2016 to August 31, 2017, 370 officers and jawans of policemen across the country laid down their lives.
“30 J&K policemen were killed while fighting militancy in the State this year,” the police chief said.
He said among the dead including DySP Mohammad Ayoub Pandit, SI Feroz Ahmad and ASI Ab Rashid Shah.
Pandit was lynched by a mob outside historic Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar in June this year while Feroz and Shah were killed in militant attacks.
The police chief said for the welfare of families of slain policemen, exgratia has been increased from Rs 7 lakhs to Rs 20 lakhs.
“The families of the slain jawan are now being paid a relief of Rs 43 lakhs. Earlier, it used to be Rs 27 lakhs,” he said.
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, who was scheduled to attend the function and address the policemen and officials on Police Commemoration Day, skipped the function. Instead senior PDP leader and Revenue Minister, Abdul Rehman Veeri attended and addressed the function.
He said Mehbooba could not attend the function because she was not feeling well.