Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Aug 30: Shifting of over 100 Village Defence Committee (VDC), Special Police Officers (SPOs) from hilly area of Bani tehsil over two months back has generated a public resentment in the area as people living in the far-flung and secluded areas of Bani tehsil are worried for their safety and security.
According to sources, over 100 SPOs were shifted from the hilly reaches of Bani -Lohi Malhar areas by police authorities exposing the people of villages of Roulka, Lowang, , Sarthal, Duggan, Dhagger, Lohai, Choochroo Gala, Machedi, Duggiani, Sarla, Saddrota and Bangal area of Bani Constituency to grave risk.
The residents said that withdrawal of security pickets from these villages has been a cause of concern for them, especially in view of coming Kailash Kund Yatra, which starts in month of September followed by the annual melas of Sarthal Mata, Joran Wali and Dolla Wali Mata Melas in Bani tehsil where thousands of devotees visit.
The people said in case the security pickets were not reinstalled in these areas and VDCs re-established there, the yatris will be exposed to security risk as the threat of militants who used the higher reaches of adjoining Doda and Kishtwar districts as the green pastures has not died down yet.
They said the recent militancy incidents in Kishtwar and Doda districts has also created fear psychosis among the people in hilly belt of Bani in view of the proximity of the area with the twin districts.
The residents of these areas said after the establishing of the security pickets in the hilly belt and far flung areas of Bani two decades back, the people of this belt heaved a sigh of relief as this did not give them protection from militants threat who frequently moved through the this belt on their way to Doda, Bhadarwah and Kishtwar only but their presence also kept the burglars and other anti social elements at bay.
However after shifting of these SPOs by police authorities to DPL Kathua the authorities have put this sensitive belt to a grave risk said Ghulam Hyder Malik, Ex Deputy Speaker. He said after the withdrawal of the SPOs the fear psychosis loom large in the area and people are totally perturbed.
A deputation of people led by former Minister, Prem Sagar Aziz has also met the DG Police in this regard and apprised him of the security scenario in the hilly areas of Bani tehsil including Lohi Malhar.
When contacted MLA Bani, Jeevan Lal said that he has taken up the issue with the SSP Kathua, Shridahr Patil and he assured that the SPOs will be deputed back in their respective areas.
The MLA said there was dispute among SPOs and VDCs over the distribution of honorarium as some SPOs were not ready to divide the honorarium among other VDC members so the administration shifted them to Hiranagar from Bani. However now the issue has been settled and SPOs gave in writing that they will share the honorarium with VDCs and SSP has assured him to depute them in their respective areas within days.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel