Politically strong police officer fails to get district SSP post despite scripting influential attempts; Recent SSP postings not digestible to few

Politically strong police officer fails to get district SSP post despite scripting influential attempts; Recent SSP postings not digestible to few

SALIL RAINA

(POONCH TODAY NEWS)

JAMMU: A high profile police officer, who was known in police department for having strong political links with few powerful political leaders, when National Conference and PDP were in power, enjoyed multiple prize postings,  both in Jammu and Kashmir divisions, this time failed to get post of a district SSP.

The officer in question did not hesitate to contact few leaders of a ruling party and invited them in a grand hotel in Jammu city and served them by all means with a hidden agenda of getting a district SSP post. The said police officer tried everything to satisfy the leaders and requested them to approach higher authorities for adjusting him as a district SSP in any district of J&K UT and the meeting took place few days before when several police officers were posted as SSPs in many districts. Despite scripting many influential attempts through few strong political leaders of a ruling party, the said officer failed to get SSP post in any of the district of J&K UT, because his concerns were not properly addressed by those political leaders before police high-ups. This officer is known in police circles for his high political links and not for professional policing because majority of his tenures at different places remained below normal. He is also reportedly known for getting a big piece of state land gifted by his close relative in a posh area of Jammu.  On the other hand, there are many professional  police officers in J&K police of the ranks Dy.SP, SP and SSP, who, over the years, failed to get good postings because of having no godfather in high-up of J&K police and as a result, their morale have come down shoddily, said highly placed sources in police department. During the last few years, it has become a regular practice in J&K police that those Dy.SPs, SPs and few other  officers of  low and high ranks, who were known for their best and professional policing, were not rewarded properly in successive postings, but, those known for shady activities and having links with top brass were given prize postings.  Even, those police officers who were facing high profile inquiries on very sensitive issues were given top posting regularly in recent years. J&K police has earned a big name in entire country due to its professional policing and facing many challenges successfully after the outbreak of militancy in J&K and this has become possible due to the presence of many police officers who are known in police circles for integrity, high professionalism and having many successful tenures by waging a war against drugs, terrorism, anti social and anti national elements in addition of building better police public relations in a healthy manner, but were never  rewarded well by police high ups in recent years and this shows that meritorious officer in J&K police have no takers. However, in recent posting of many newly SSPs in many districts,   eyebrows were also raised within the department over few selections on important SSP postings, however, few police officers who were enjoying the patronage of high-ups were sidelined without completing the full tenure because govt was having full information about their involvement in shady activities.  The state of affairs in J&K police from administrative point of view have come under radar, because the other, day, outgoing SSP Kathua, who was shifted to NIA, on record narrated his story on how he was not given full tenures and transferred many times after completing just three to five months at different places and his speech was indirectly hinted towards poor administrative affairs in J&K police in which those having strong links always get good postings and those, even known for merit, if have no links, cannot get good postings.  After the abrogation of Art 370 and 35 A, J&K police have done a commendable job in ensuring peace in entire J&K UT. Even, the role played by police during COVID-19 crisis is unparallel and credit for all this goes to top brass and all ranks of J&K police. On one hand, J&K police have come up to the expectations of people during challenging times, but to satisfy the annoyed minds within J&K police, more reforms are needed by introducing a system to reward meritorious officials from low to higher ranks and the practice of giving preference to only those having strong links in police and political setup  must be discouraged in the best interest of credibility of J&K police for times to come. Merit and professionalism should be the only criteria in various important postings and not lobby culture which has unfortunately gained momentum in police in recent years and if not tackled properly  by the government,  it will block good career opportunities  for many police officers who are known for their integrity and strong professionalism.