Centre doubles salaries of SPOs in J

Jammu, Aug 19 (UNI) The Centre has approved doubling of the salaries of 23,200 Special Police Officers (SPOs) in Jammu and Kashmir, according to an official release here.

The SPOs assist the Police in various operations.

The officers who were getting Rs 1500 per month would be paid double the amount, the release said.

Till date 425 SPOs have died in anti-insurgency operations and also assisted the security forces during natural calamities like earthquake, floods, landslides.

The ruling coalition government in the state, immediately after its takeover had promised to improve the living standards of SPOs who are working in the state for last 11 years.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had raised the issue with Union Home Secretary V K Duggal during their recent visit to the strife-torn state and also with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

The decision will burden the exchequer with additional Rs 42 crore per year. Now the Centre will be releasing Rs 84 crore per year for the salary of SPOs in the state.

The Chief Minister has congratulated the SPOs on the important decision, the release added.

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