AMRITSAR: The increasing number of desertions by Special Police Officers (SPOs) under the influence of militants, is posing a serious threat to the loosely knit village defence system in border areas of the district.
In the past two months, more than 12 SPOs were reportedly ‘won over by militants and made to join their ranks. At least eight such incidents were reported from the Majitha police district alone.
In some cases, such SPOs colluded with militant gangs in Organising attacks on the pickets in which they were deployed. Subsequently, they deserted their posts along with the assailants and also took away the weapons issued to them. According to police officers, attempts by militants to win over the SPOs are a part of their strategy to dismantle the village defence system. Their gangs have been consistently attacking the SPO pickets in a bid to overrun the force.
SPO pickets have been checking the free movement of militants in the countryside. The security personnel manning such posts have borne the maximum brunt of the militant’s wrath and many of them have been killed.
In view of the mounting pressure on SPO posts, these were strengthened recently in terms of manpower and fire power. Several pickets from less vulnerable villages were withdrawn and clubbed together to form augmented posts.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 21, 1990
