J&K Police's revival of inter-regional battalion swapping exercise may cause loss to state exchequer

 Jammu, Aug 17 :  Aiming at strengthening bond among troops, Jammu and Kashmir Police is soon going to revive inter-regional swapping of police battalions, which may add additional burden on the state exchequer. Sources in the Police Department told here. ''The Department is coming up with an exercise of regional shifting of battalions which was discontinued few years back, but the question is that will it not add burden on the state exchequer,’’ said the sources in the police Department. They said that more than century old exercise of 'Darbar Move' was already existing in the state and causing loss of crores of rupees to the state exchequer, adding, ''then what was the fun in introducing the same exercise in the Police Department.’’ Sources further said that initially two battalions each from Jammu and Kashmir regions will replace each other. ''There is already a demand from various corners to stop decades old exercise of Darbar Move as it is an additional burden to the state exchequer,’’ sources added. The sources further said, ''a battalion have nearly 1,000 jawans and it is not an easy task to shift with boarding, lodging and large amount of ammunition by road on a sensitive and accident prone highway.’’ ''Instead of spending huge money on this exercise, the same amount can be utilised for the welfare of the jawans,’’ they said. Sources added, ''it is not only be additional burden but also wastage of time as around 4000 jawans will get engaged in the shifting process and for nearly one-month they cannot perform any professional task unless get settled at the new place.’’ From Jammu two battalions including IRP 17th from Nud, Samba and IRP 4th based at Channi Himmat will replace Mattan (Anantnag) based IRP 12th battalion and Kupwara based AP 7th Battalion respectively, sources added. Meanwhile, ADGP Armed L Mohanty when contacted told, '' it was an old exercise but discontinued for certain reasons.'' ''We want to have every composition into the battalions at all the three regions and keeping it in view, this exercise is going to be revived,’’ said the senior police officer. ''It will not only strengthen coordination among our jawans but also help in developing harmony,’’ said Mr Mohanty. UNI