Adil Lateef
SRINAGAR, May 23: Chief Minister, Mebooba Mufti today lauded Jammu and Kashmir Police in its fight against militancy despite severe difficulties and pressure since last 25 years and impressed upon the police personnel to protect rights of people guaranteed by Constitution of country and State.
Addressing police recruits in Sheeri Training Centre at North Kashmir’s Baramulla district during passing out parade of 228 constables, Mehbooba said that she understands the pressure and difficulties that were faced by police while fighting war against its own people who have had adopted path of violence and militancy. “The responsibilities of police everywhere is to safeguard and protect people. But in Jammu and Kashmir, these responsibilities are much more than other States”, he added.
“For last 25 years, the police force of J&K came under extremely difficult conditions because if someone else comes to fight a war from outside you can easily fight him. But if, in your, a youth or a child adopts the path of violence then I can understand the pressure on our police, the difficulties which our police faced while fighting the war against its own people,” Mehbooba said.
However, the Chief Minister commended police for their job and said the cops got the State out of “vicious” cycle of violence by giving “huge sacrifices” of its men. “In this fight, lots of sacrifices were given… lots of elderly parents gave shoulder to the coffins of their sons, be it constables, SPOs, SIs or sometimes even SPs,” she said and saluted the police for its sacrifices.
“Till now, you gave enough salutes to me. But I want to salute you for those sacrifices and I want to salute whole police force. Your work is very difficult. You have to live here in your State and while residing here you, at the same time, have to fight your neighbour’s son, friend’s son and the youth of your own area. And sometimes, it gives you a lot of pain in heart and you question yourself about your actions. But I want to tell you that duty is above all everything,” she said.
Mehbooba urged policemen to make their duty as ‘mission of your life’. “If there is anything highest in the world and on which every religion lays emphasizes, it is duty… and most importantly police’s duty is above it’s mission… Your job is not job but a mission to protect people and to get them out of the difficulties. That’s why I want to congratulate Jammu and Kashmir Police for changing the environment of State,” she said.
Mehbooba at the same time also acknowledged the role of other security forces in Jammu and Kashmir but said the role of police is much more ‘because fighting own people while being here is very difficult’. She, however, said that whatever police have done (by fighting militancy and violence) was right. “Today when we see towards world…when we see towards Syria, Libya, Egypt and our own neighbouring country Pakistan where due to gun there is such an environment that has made lives of people hell.
“That’s why, had you not acted on time by performing your duty then God forbid, the situation of ours would have been same as is of these countries where followers of one religion are beheading each other and religion is being defamed,” she said and congratulated police on her and on the behalf of people of Jammu and Kashmir for “creating a peaceful environment by offering enormous sacrifices.”
The Chief Minister urged the policemen to become role models and refrain from harassing people and create a good perception among public by showing a humane face to them. She urged the cops to show restraint while dealing with youngsters, saying: “You should try to counsel these local children. You should tell them that this is wrong path and this won’t yield anything… Whenever any civilian dies, it undoes the efforts of reconciliation by the State Government. ”
“I want to take Jammu and Kashmir out of the whirlpool of violence that has broken the back of our society and economy, but I will not succeed unless the J&K Police and security forces include themselves in that mission to apply balm on the wounds of the people,” she said. However, she was quick to add that ‘we have to fight and we are fighting infiltrators on borders’.
Addressing the Constables who passed out of the training centre, the Chief Minister asked them to respect the Constitutions of J&K and India while performing their duties. “The Constitution protects the rights of people. Constitution also gives rights to people. Under the Constitution, police has more responsibilities than rights. If a small incident takes place, the complaint will come to you as constables. People have high hopes from you. They expect you to undo the wrongs. You should not let them down,” she said.
Mehbooba said the J&K Government will evolve a system for quick promotion of constables on the basis of merit, “You will get rewards on the basis of merit and the inequity between KPS and IPS cadres will be taken care of. But you have to make an example of yourself in the society by your proper attitude and humanitarian behavior,” she added.
The Chief Minister also announced that the State Government is working out a one-time settlement of pending cases of SRO-43 within the police force which have been stuck due to legal hassles. “We are thinking of giving one time relaxation to absorb all those children of policemen who laid down their lives in the line of duty,” she said.
Mehbooba also complimented the J&K Police for running the Drug De-Addiction Centre in Srinagar. “The drug centre has provided relief to many people, but a drug addict is a patient who can be cured. You should go after drug peddlers and book them under PSA so that the menace can be ended,” she said.
The Chief Minister on the occasion also distributed commendation prizes and mementos among the pass-outs. The passing out ceremony was also attended by Member of Parliament, Fayaz A Mir, MLAs Javed Baig, Yawar Dilawar Mir, Raja Manzoor and Abbas Wani, Special DGP, SK Mishra, Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, Yasha Mudgal besides senior officers of civil and police administration. The function was also attended by Principal Secretary (Home), RK Goyal, Director General of Police, K Rajendra, IG (Kashmir), SJM Gilani, GoC, 19 Division, Baramulla, Major General JS Nair besides top officers of civil and police administration.
Earlier, in his speech, DGP K Rajendra Kumar congratulated the pass-outs while thanking the CM for attending the event as the ‘Chief Guest’. He said the J&K Police provides training to its recruits in accordance with changing situations, cyber crime, disaster management, militancy and other fields.
“Our forces have laid down their lives for the safety and security of people. They have upheld the highest standard of professionalism while serving the people dispassionately and with honesty. For our jawans, the welfare of people is the top priority,” Rajendra said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel