The police have issued a detailed advisory to the special police officers and protected persons in a bid to prevent weapon snatching by militants.
According to the advisory, issued in the form of a booklet, even a small violation can land an SPO in big trouble with the department.
The advisory lays special emphasis on avoiding abandoning a weapon and makes it obligatory for protected persons like politicians to inform the district police control rooms when intending to travel.
A top police officer, privy to the booklet containing the security advisory, disclosed that all the protected politicians have been issued copies.
“If a PSO violates the advisory, he will be punished,” the officer said, wishing anonymity.
The development comes close on the heels of surprise checks and guard count of protected persons by the police in Srinagar.
The police officer said in case weapons of PSOs are found abandoned, “they will outrightly be seized and the policemen will be taken to task for dereliction of duty”. Different categories of protected persons are entitled to use PSOs during their travel outside the state.
“Travel of protected politicians depends on the category. As per the advisory, if a politician intends to travel outside the state, they are supposed to seek prior permission from the concerned police control rooms,’ the officer said.
“The politicians also need to seek written permission in case they intend to travel to Delhi”.
Two major weapon snatching incidents shook the entire security grid. The first occurred at J-11 government quarters at Jawahar Nagar where SPO of former PDP legislator Aijaz Mir fled with seven rifles and a personal pistol of Mir.
It was followed by another weapons heist in the same area at J-37 recently when gunmen looted four rifles from guards of Congress legislator MuzaffarParray.
In both cases, 11 PSOs were suspended from service for dereliction of duty.
The police official said the latest advisory will be strictly followed to plug weapon loot.
During 2018, around 74 weapons were looted across Kashmir valley.