Jammu, Jan 1: Director General of Police (DGP) R R Swain Monday said that the new challenge for the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) in the new year would be “not to let the dismantled terror ecosystem take roots or re-surface.”
Stating that policing was “an article of faith for members of Jammu and Kashmir Police”, he asserted, “The enemy and those falsely critical of us must know that while we do policing as a livelihood, we are not available for sale.”
“The officers and men of Jammu and Kashmir police alone know that they are the first responders in matters of establishing truth and upholding rule of law,” he said.
NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY
In his New Year message for all ranks of JKP personnel, Swain asserted that there was no room for complacency, notwithstanding the progress made in its (JKP’s) goal of “uprooting the terrorist ecosystem” and “playing a lead role for realising the vision of ‘Naya Kashmir’ as envisaged by the Prime Minister.”
The record low number of active terrorists, successful hosting of mega events like G20, Tiranga Yatra, Air Show and Shri Amaranth Ji Yatra, all pointed towards the honest and relentless efforts made by officers and men of J&K police in complete synergy with other organs and departments of the government, he said.
“But we still face challenges. Terrorism is down but not completely wiped out. We just cannot afford to lower the guard. The enemy is and will continue to try different tactics to derail peace. We have to defeat any such move before it takes roots,” he cautioned them.
The top cop of J&K pointed out that till the other day, the challenge was to dismantle the terror ecosystem in which significant progress had been achieved. “But now the new challenge is not to let it take roots or re-surface even marginally in any form,” he said, while delineating the challenges before the Force.
TERRORISM THREAT TO GO STRONGER IN ERA OF AI WARFARE
Swain stated that the threat of terrorism was going to get stronger in the near future, in the era of AI (Artificial Intelligence) warfare. He pointed out this necessitated for the force (JKP) to “continue to improve upon the traditional methods and practices of maintaining peace as well as counter terrorism efforts.”
“We need to keep honing our skills in technology and AI backed policing with an urgency,” he said.
He asserted, “While there has to be zero tolerance towards any activity or person posing threat to the peace and stability of the nation and safety of the local communities and their fear-free living, we have to show real empathy and compassion for our fellow peace-loving citizens.”
JKP UNIQUE POLICE FORCE IN COUNTRY; AMONG ALL SECURITY FORCES
He described JKP as a “unique police force in the country and perhaps among all security forces” given its “onerous responsibilities of fighting terrorists and simultaneously of maintaining law and order on streets, of battling the terrorists with guns and those without, combating the enemy who is invisible and also the enemy within.”
“We are also very challenged because we have to fight terrorism and crime with minimum loss to the innocent. While undertaking this joint national and societal fight alongside other partners, we have the difficult challenge of doing it within the constraints of law, under the gaze of new age media and our accountability to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies and answerability to law making bodies and elected representatives in them,” he further delineated the ‘uniqueness’ of JKP and its unique challenges.
WILL FIGHT ALL ATTEMPTS TO VILIFY JKP PERSONNEL
He, however, assured the police personnel to do “everything possible to fight any attempt to vilify them only” because they were a “member of JK police, by constantly exposing duplicitous behaviour of the “bullies and goons working secretly on behalf of the terrorist and secessionist networks sometimes under the guise of ‘respectables’.”
He exhorted all the members of J&K police to “don the mantle of the fearless, upright and incorruptible neighbourhood friend always available to the innocent law-abiding citizens without coming under fear or seeking favour.”
“Let us remember we are the law keepers and the adversary is the law breaker. No one else, but J&K police alone is responsible to listen to the complaints of the common innocent man when he comes to us as a victim,” he stated, while setting the priorities for the force.
JKP KNOWS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INNOCENT, OFFENDER
Swain asserted that no one knew better than J&K police when it came to “make a difference between the innocent and the offender” and between the “offenders who were masterminds and the offenders who were used as pawns by the masterminds.”
He reiterated that JKP would continue to remain, at the forefront, to uphold the sovereignty, integrity and the honour of Bharat.
“More than 1600 J&K police personnel have made the supreme sacrifice of laying down their lives at the altar of duty. This proud professional force has given enormous sacrifices to get J&K out of the clutches of sponsored terrorism and ensure an enabling environment for fostering peace and development. I pay homage to each one of these Bravehearts who did not cower down under intimidation while performing their duties whether in active combat or while investigating cases or protecting lives and guarding properties or maintaining order on streets,” he said.
PRIORITIES FOR 2024
Underlining the priorities for JKP personnel, DGP Swain said, “We need to be fully prepared to ensure a peaceful environment so that investments take place, young men and women can setup startups to create wealth and employment, new enterprises are established…, ordinary young men and women without pedigree, but committed to transparent governance and wellbeing of their electorate, feel free to vote as voters and compete with each other to be voted to power as candidates without the fear of the lurking gun of the separatists and the soft separatists used through the hapless terrorists.”