If the identified lot of blue eyed Inspectors are really capable for repeated postings as SHOs then it is a matter of an in-depth investigation as to why sale of narcotics, bovine smuggling and crime graph is on the rise ?
JAMMU: The earth shaking admittance of incumbent Mayor of Jammu Municipal Corporation, Rajinder Sharma who also happens to be the first citizen of Jammu regarding alleged prevailing nexus between some police personnel and drug cartel has sent shock waves among entire populace of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory.
As reported by local english newspaper today, while presiding over the maiden General House Meeting (GHM) of Urban Local Body (ULB), the Mayor said “Repeated posting of a few inspectors as Station House Officers (SHOs) at prime police stations of Jammu district has a close nexus with business of narcotics which needs to be probed”.
This million dollar statement from the horses mouth has exposed the chinks in the armour of police department over the postings of SHOs especially in the area where the drugs cartels have established their strong foothold.
The reliable sources in police department said the statement of Mayor is a clarion call for the higher ups to revamp the postings and transfer mechanisms of SHOs which over the years have become a source of huge malpractices in the name of smart policing.
Further giving details, the senior IPS officer maintaining anonymity said “The JKP has strength of nearly 1450 Inspectors and there are 99 Police Stations in Jammu Division and 106 in Kashmir division”.
Ironically, for the past few decades as part of a game plan less then 125 Inspectors keep on rotating from one police station to another by managing Intra/inter district posting as SHOs. This is a putrefying state of affairs which is a casualty on the name of policing, added the officer.
Further sharing the in-depth details, the officer said “There are several wings of police including Traffic, Armed, Technical, CID, SIA, Anti Narcotic, ACB, CB, Cyber, Police Academy, SDRF, Home Guard, Component, Tourist Police, Railway Police, Anti-hijacking besides deputation to NIA, CBI and ED etc.
It takes atleast 10 to 12 years for an Inspector to become DySP and the police department must ensure the rotation of every cop with one year stint in every wing to make him a competent police officer fully conversant with the present day fast changing crime scenario”.
Insiders in the police department further elaborated that repetition of the same lot of 125 inspectors as SHOs has not honed their effective policing skills and the horrible sale and distribution network of narcotics generally in entire UT and especially in Jammu district has proved that these darling SHOs have miserably failed to curb the menace of drugs in their respective jurisdiction.
“Recovery of 2 gm/5gm heroin is no achievement when the SHOs failed to nab the kingpin who is running the show sitting behind in a safe haven”, they added
The CID wing of UT needs to gird up its loins to investigate as to how these blue eyed SHOs have amassed huge moveable/immovable properties worth several crores beyond their known sources of income, said Prof. S K Bhalla.
The hue and cry raised by some councillors of JMCs as well as a woman Activist regarding free flow of narcotics in Bagh E Bahu, Raghoora, Rajiv Nagar, Bhathindi, Gandhi Nagar, Trikuta Nagar, Janipur, Bhor Camp, Gadhi Garh, Samba etc raises question mark on the working of those commanding police stations in these areas. These SHOs must be made accountable seriously by intervention at the highest level, added Prof. Bhalla.
To set the record straight, the police department needs to ensure that prior to posting of an SHO, the details of assets and previous track records must be verified through CID as well. Their annual property statements must be made public alike civil servants to ensure transparency, maintained Prof. Bhalla.
JK Global News Take : The revelations of Mayor on SHOs posting mess viz vis drug cartel should be taken seriously on priority basis by the LG’s administration. It is an insult coupled with injury that right under the nose of administration the narcotic mafia is operating at free will with none to check. Moreover, the higher ups in police department must wake up from deep slumber and shun their predilection for selected lot of inspectors repeatedly awarded posting as SHOs at prime locations. There are nearly 1450 officers of the rank of inspectors and repetition of only a few as SHOs is suicidal for overall good Governance component as well as fighting narco-terrorism which is gaining inroads in every nook and corner of UT through anti-social rotten eggs in connivance with anti national elements.