Respect human rights: JK Police Chief

Srinagar, July 22: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khuda has impressed upon his men and officers to work in close co-ordination with the people and respect human rights at all costs during anti-militancy operations in the strife-torn state.

Addressing men and officers here, he said the entire police force should try to bridge the gap with the people of the state. The state police should come up as a people-friendly force, Mr Khuda added.

The newly-appointed state police chief praised his men and officers for excellent performance at each and every front. The speed with which the police personnel were performing at present should not decrease and instead needed to be accelerated.

Referring to the ongoing fight against ultras, he said due to the efforts of the police and the people, there had been a considerable decrease in militancy-related incidents.

''If we move ahead with same commitment, the day is not far when we will see an end of the militancy saga,'' the DGP added.

Calling upon his men and officers to work with discipline and integrity, he assured that there would be smooth and transparent promotional and appointment policy.

Mr Khuda said the environs were changing with every day. ''We should not remain away from taking the challenges head-on. There is no room for complacency and the need of the hour is to ensure clean anti-militancy operations and protecting the lives and property of the people to the last drop of blood,'' he added.

However, the DGP called upon the police personnel to respect and protect the human rights of the people at any cost.

Mr Khuda asked the police personnel to be decent with the people as they represent a force, which has earned laurels during the past 17 years. They (police personnel) have to be people-friendly and ensure that civilians were in no way inflicted harm during frisking and routine checking, he added. The DGP said the endeavour of the police personnel should be to become the role models by their sense of duty, dedication and behaviour. ''We are meant to serve the people and protect their interests,'' he added.

Mr Khuda complemented security agencies for their high-sense of duty and called for strengthening grievance redressal mechanism at all levels in the police organisation to instill greater confidence among the people of the state.

He said the state police had come up as one of the best forces in the country having played a vital role in combating militancy during the past 17 years in protecting the life and property of people even by making supreme sacrifices.

More than 1400 valiant officers and men of the police had sacrificed their lives for the larger interests of the people and the state, the DGP added.

He said while the good work done by police would be encouraged, any misconduct and dereliction of duty would be viewed seriously.

Listing out his priorities, the DGP said police stations, armed units and other such establishments would be modernised with availability of latest equipment to serve the people better.

UNI