Screening of SPOs: Govt extends time till Dec 15 for panels to submit report

Srinagar: The state government on Friday extended time period till December 15 for submitting of report by district-Level Official Committees constituted for screening of the SPOs engaged in the last six years in the state.

The government in July this year had ordered forming the district-Level Official Committees, each headed by the concerned Deputy Commissioner with concerned district SSP and Dy Superintendent of Police (CID-SB) as members.

“These Committees shall assess and screen the SPOs engaged during the past six years, with regard to their selection, antecedents and performance,” the order had said adding that the Committees shall submit their report to the Home Department and the Director General Police within one month. Later the time period was extended till September 15 and now it has been extended till December 15.

According to GNS, the order of extending the time period days after Police has decided that SPOs will not be deployed for personal security of protected persons anymore amid loot of seven rifles and pistol Friday last by SPO Adil Bashir who since joined militant group Hizbul Mujahideen.

An order issued by Additional Director General of Police (Security) Muneer Ahmad Khan said, “It is hereby ordered that henceforth no unit/SSP shall deploy any Special Police Officer (SPO) for Personal Security Officer (PSO) duties and all SPOs (except SPO drivers) presently attached with protected persons be immediately withdrawn”.

Khan said it has been observed that some SPOs are performing PSO duties with protected persons, which is not in accordance with security norms as SPOs are not trained to perform PSO duties.

Khan also directed all range DIGs to furnish a list of all SPOs withdrawn from PSO duties by 5 October, 2018.

“In case any SPO does not report back, (his) honorarium may not be released and nominal roll of such SPOs be furnished to this headquarters so that their disengagement orders are issued,” Khan added. (GNS)