J&K Police to procure advanced weapons from Israel and Germany

JAMMU — Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General of Police (DGP) R R Swain on Friday said that to counter the militants holding modern weapons, the police is procuring the latest arms from Israel and Germany to boost the weaponry of the force.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function where nine special police officers (SPOs) were regularised for their brave role in the Kathua encounter that saw the killing of two foreign militants, the DGP Swain, as per the news agency KNO, said that police were procuring weapons from Israel and Germany to boost its weaponry.

“We will have the latest weapon system to counter our enemy,” he said, in response to a query that slain militants in Doda encounter were having United States (US) made M-4 carbines with them.

The DGP said that the new procurement of arms from Israel and Germany will give a boost to the police forces’ weaponry and also help tackle the enemy in a much better way. “Terrorists can give us a leg cut but can’t defeat us,” he said.

It may be recalled that between June 9 and 12, four militancy-related incidents in the Reasi, Doda and Kathua districts of hilly Jammu claimed the lives of 10 people, including seven pilgrims returning from the Shiv Khori temple and a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan and left many others injured.

DGP Swain recently stated that police were ready to take on foreign militants in Jammu and will not shy from firing the first bullet. In recent two encounters at Kathua and Doda, five foreign militants were killed and three US-made M-4 carbines were recovered from them besides other weapons.

The DGP, while hailing the courage and valour of Kathua people, said that when he served as the SSP in the district, elderly people would often tell him the tales of how locals of Kathua supported the army in wars against the enemy including the 1965 war. “Patriotism is deeply filled in the hearts of Kathua people. We have decided to strengthen the Village Defence Guards (VDGs) of Kathua district,” he said.

About the regularisation of SPOs, DGP Swain said that police top brass has unanimously decided to move beyond the normal procedure and regularise the SPOs who take militants head-on. “The brave acts of SPOs will be recognised and within 24 hours, the SPOs will be regularised for their brave acts,” he said in his message to all 20,000 SPOs serving the J&K Police.