SRINAGAR A blanket ban was announced on Thursday on the use of smartphones by police guards during duty hours in Jammu and Kashmir following a rising number of incidents of weapon snatching by militants.
In a detailed circular, A.K. Choudhary, the Additional Director General of Armed Police, said: “It has been observed that recent weapon snatching incidents have occurred (as) sentries on duty remain engaged with their smartphones for most of the time, thereby compromising with their legitimate duty.
“This tendency has considerably increased and resulted in weapon snatching/killing of policemen in the state, particularly in the Valley.
“All guard personnel shall ensure compliance of the standing drill in letter and spirit.”
Besides imposing the ban on use of smartphones, the order also said that the weapon must be chained to the guard’s body as per the standard instructions contained in the drill for such duties.
As per circular, no sentry shall carry with him any smartphone during duty hours under any circumstances. All sentries, particularly on guard duty, shall wear BP gear and chain their weapons with their belts properly. All the guards shall introduce improvised alarm system. All the guard personnel shall remain available round the clock in their respective guard rooms in a state of alertness and in proper uniform during day-time.”
All duty officers have been asked to take hourly situation report from all company commanders. All guard personnel shall ensure compliance of the standing drill in letter and spirit. They shall have liaise with nearest district police installations/security force’s (SFs) pickets.
“All the commandants of JKAP/IR Battalions and supervisory officers concerned are enjoined upon to ensure implementation of the directions in letter and spirit. They shall ensure that all the officers/officials of their respective units are briefed adequately in this regard for better results on the ground. In case of any delinquency, the concerned commandants and other supervisory officers shall also be held responsible,” the order added.
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