Srinagar: Centre has provided around ₹ 90 crore to Jammu and Kashmir police for purchasing of modern weapons, bullet proof jackets and upgraded infrastructure in police stations in the last two years.
Government of India in 2017 initiated a scheme ‘Modernization of Police Forces (MPF)’ to build required infrastructure for police in states and union territories.
Sources said Centre provided Rs 769 crore and Rs 811 crore to states and union territories for 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively.
Jammu and Kashmir police has received around Rs 90 crore during these years, they said.
The new Union Territory is only behind Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra which received Rs 131 crore and Rs 98 crore, respectively.
The objective of the scheme is to gradually reduce the dependence of states and union territories on the Army and Central Armed Police Forces, sources told Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
They said scheme was started so that Jammu and Kashmir police was able to control internal security, law and order situations and equipping police forces adequately including strengthening their training infrastructure.
A senior police official told KINS that Jammu and Kashmir has purchased modern weaponry, bullet proof jackets and helmets under the scheme over the last two years.
“Jammu and Kashmir has also been able to purchase equipments for forensics, cyber cell and raised height of walls in police stations to provide secure police stations,” the police official said.
He said that special focus has also been on technical upgradation including extensive installation of Close Circuit Television Sets (CCTVs) around police stations and in Srinagar city.
“All these measures are being taken to combat militancy. Government wants JK police to be well equipped and better trained to deal with the situation,” he said.
There are around 100,000 police personnel in Jammu and Kashmir who have been dealing with the law and order situation and fighting militancy in the valley.
Earlier, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India had criticized J&K government for providing “poor infrastructure and lack of basic facilities for the state police force that needs it the most in the country”.(KINS)