24,631 SPOs working in J&K: Omar Abdullah

JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir government today said 24,631 special police officers (SPOs) are at present working in the state.

In a written reply to the joint question of MLCs Bashir Ahmed Magrey, Syed Asgar Ali and Rani Gargi Bleoria in the Legislative Council, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said 24,631 SPOs are presently working in J&K Police.

As many as 2,116 SPOs have been converted into constables and followers under the state government's rehabilitation policy of 2009, he added.

The rehabilitation policy for absorption and conversion of SPOs also contains provisions for grant of relaxation in age and qualifications of the personnel. Similarly, the policy envisages that there will be no age or qualification bar for absorption of SPOs as followers, he said.

A proposal to enhance honorarium of SPOs from existing Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 per month has been submitted to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for concurrence, Omar said. The state government is vigorously pursuing the MHA for favourable consideration of the proposal, he added.