Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 21: With a view to tackle two and half month long unrest in the Kashmir valley, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has sanctioned engagement of additional 10,000 Special Police Officers (SPOs) in Police Department of Jammu and Kashmir.
An official ordered issued by the MHA and mailed to the Excelsior said the additional number of 10,000 SPOs will be over and above the existing strength of the SPOs, who will be utilized for security related requirements.
The Ministry of Home Affairs would reimburse expenditure (incurred on salaries) of 10,000 additional SPOs to the State Government as per the existing approved Security Related Expenditure (SRE).
Sources said the MHA decision would serve twin purposes. On the one hand, it would give employment to 10,000 youth and, on the other, these newly recruited SPOs would be used to identify trouble mongers in the Kashmir valley, which now has been facing protests for past two and half months after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen divisional commander Burhan Wani on July 8 at Kokernag.
Sources said the Central Government order was also aimed at engaging the youth in the recruitment process.
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