JAMMU, SEPT 28:Special commissioners, having both civil and policing powers, are being appointed in all the 14 districts of Jammu and Kashmir to tackle the situation arising out of the sudden spurt in militancy.The system of having such officers was introduced in the State in 1990 by then Governor, Jagmohan, but was discontinued three years later.Besides the revival of the system, a major top-level reshuffle in the police force is also being planned, which may affect the fortunes of many superintendents of police. A proposal in this connection is awaiting approval of the State Cabinet which, according to sources, will be meeting soon after the arrival of Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah from Delhi.Sources said the revival of special commissioners was brought under consideration of the State with a view to ensure better coordination between the civil administration and the police in fighting militancy.Even some deputationists had urged the Union Home Minister Indrajit Gupta, during his recent visit, for bringing back these commissioners, asserting that the lack of coordination was substantially responsible for the sudden spurt of militant violence in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. These, they pointed out remained peaceful even when militancy was at its peak during the early nineties when the system was in force.In 1992 over 40 militants were killed by security forces in Poonch district. But, at the time the militants had been infiltrating into Rajouri and Poonch only to pass to Doda and the adjoining Kashmir valley, they pointed out.Now the Deputy Commissioner and the SP head the civil administration and the police in each district respectively. Also, the State government has appointed a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) for every two districts to sort out inter-district problems in respect to anti-insurgency operations.These DIGs are disadvantaged due to their lack of power to deal with civil aspects of their administration in their respective districts.During 1990 every two militancy-infested districts in the State had special commissioners, except the comparatively peaceful Jammu & Kathua.
