Police to tackle Pak social media drive

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 28

Director General of Police (DGP) Shesh Paul Vaid on Tuesday flagged his concern over Pakistan’s relentless social media campaign to “mislead the youth of the state”, saying “the J&K police have taken measures to counter neighbouring country’s propaganda”.

“We have taken various measures to counter social media campaign launched by the neighbouring country to mislead our youth. We have blocked several accounts on the social media,” the DGP said while addressing police personnel at the attestation-cum-passing-out parade at Vijaypur in Samba district.

He said the police had created 26 Facebook pages at the range and zonal levels while 189 pages had been created at the police station level. “We have also started 31 Twitter handles,” Vaid said.

Highlighting the “supreme sacrifices” made by the state policemen, he said, “As many as 1,660 police personnel have been martyred for the country and the state while fighting terrorism, proxy war and maintaining peace. This supreme sacrifice is equivalent to the sacrifices made during the Kargil war,” Vaid said.

‘MHA approached for 5,000 residential quarters’

The DGP also disclosed that the state police have approached the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) with a request to fund the construction of 5,000 residential quarters for policemen working in different parts of the state.

“We have requested the MHA for allowing us to construct 5,000 residential quarters in different parts of the state because the terrorists are targeting our men and their families. Once the proposal gets approval, these quarters will be constructed in Jammu, Srinagar, and other parts of the state,” Vaid said.

Pertinently, militants have recently targeted policemen, particularly in the Kashmir valley. A fortnight ago, about two dozen special police officers (SPOs) posted in south Kashmir had quit from the department. The DGP also said the police department had increased the ex gratia in case of SPOs from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 17.5 lakh if they attain martyrdom in the line of duty. “Similarly, the ex gratia of policemen and officers has been increased from Rs 27 lakh to Rs 55 lakh. We are making efforts to increase it further,” Vaid said.