Kashmir Magazine By : Kashmir Magazine | Srinagar, Publish Date: Friday, January 14, 2022 1:29:35 AM | Updated Date : Friday, January 14, 2022 1:29:35 AM
Jammu and Kashmir police in its year-end presser said that while the peaceful burial of senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani was a major achievement in the year 2021, the biggest challenge for the year 2022 will be dealing with the Hybrid militants, the militants who aren’t categorized in police stations. He also stated that the top priority of the Jammu and Kashmir police in 2022 would be to curb narco trade.
Addressing the year-end press conference at PCR Srinagar, Inspector General of Police Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar said that the burial of senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani was the major achievement of the year as it remained peaceful.
He said that there was no law and order incident and burial remained peaceful. “So I count this as the major achievement for police for the year 2021. For the year 2022, Hybrid militancy will remain the biggest challenge for the police. After examining various CCTV footage, it was observed that young boys aged 17 years carry out attacks on cops and security forces. These boys aren’t categorized anywhere nor do we have their photographs in police stations,” the IGP said.
Kumar said some political leaders questioned the term Hybrid militants but the fact remains that police coined the term in January 2021. “The second major challenge will be to prevent policemen from becoming soft targets. Militants attacked unarmed cops. A few were killed while coming out of Masjids, some while going to markets and some while sleeping. Police will work to prevent such attacks in 2022.”
Kumar also said that they have made a list of 25 Hybrid militants who aren’t categorized. “171 militants were killed in the year 2021 and an almost equal number of pistols was recovered. Five US-made M-4 carbine guns were also recovered from slain JeM militants, almost all top commanders were killed, and only four are active in the Valley now.”
He said that 34 civilians were killed in 2021 against 37 last year. “In 2021 there was no collateral damage during encounters. Not a single civilian was killed in law and order incidents,” he said.
He also said that curbing narco-trade will also be the top priority for the police besides preventing crime against women.
He said that the year 2021 was challenging to fight Narcotics, however, it has been the top priority of Jammu Kashmir police to fight Narcotics.
“This has always been a top priority J&K police to fight the Narcotics. This year around 400 cases related to Narcotics have been filed. 1465 people have been arrested, 88Kg heroin has been recovered till today.”
He also that 600+ kg charas has been recovered, while 25 people have been booked under PSA for drug peddling.
“In the coming days few more peddlers will be booked and in Narcotics we have filed separated cases, while some high profile cases have been handed over to NIA. Moreover, to save our youth from Narcotics, police has started a series of initiatives, like counselling for youth,”
He said that ‘Police Community Partnership Group’ has been initiated to involve elderly people of society to fight the drug menace and another step in this regard has been taken is Police Public meeting at the respective police stations to spread awareness among societies.
The IGP said that media and NGOs are also playing a good role in awareness. “Sports are another initiative to fight the drug menace. Besides all this we are collecting data of all those drug addicts to find how we can save them from drug addiction,” he said.