Weak policing of Poonch police has increased the confidence of bovine smugglers and drug mafias in the district; Professional zeal among officers is nowhere, Poor intelligence network is a big concern   

Weak policing of Poonch police has increased the confidence of bovine smugglers and drug mafias in the district; Professional zeal among officers is nowhere, Poor intelligence network is a big concern

SALIL RAINA

(POONCH TODAY NEWS)

POONCH: During the recent past, the credibility and professional zeal among the officers of the Poonch police remained on the lower side; as a result, it increased the confidence of the bovine smugglers and drug mafia to a considerable high level. Generating income through bovine smuggling remained the primary motto of some police officers, but no strong efforts were made by the district police chiefs over the years to tackle this menace strongly. Many police officials were seen managing their postings in Surankote tehsil, especially in the Buffliaz-Pir ki Gali area, because this area is a hotbed of bovine smuggling. Without the involvement of police officials, bovine smuggling is not possible.

Many police officials over the years made fortunes from the bovine smuggling trade. Two blue-eyed police officers during their posting in Poonch district divided the area for their personal benefit, and this tactic continued for years. One officer was looking after the area from Mandi-Loran to Surankote, and another was looking from Surankote, parts of Thanamandi to Pir ki Gali and earned heavily. They also passed these tactics to their successors. This bovine smuggling mafia, with the help of some police officials, had the backing of their senior officers, and this is the reason that no strong action was ever taken against bovine smuggling over the years. Just to dodge the people, once in a blue moon, efforts used to be taken by police against bovine smuggling just to show the public through their paid agents in media and social media that police had taken action against bovine smuggling. This bovine mafia is still running its business smoothly, in which a few police officials are involved, but unfortunately, no efforts were taken to stop this menace once and for all. No doubt, on the terrorism front, police officials have taken some steps, but in general, the credibility of Poonch police has suffered a nosedive because the police officials have failed to take action against some forces inimical to peace in the district. Senior officers were seen not cooperating with their juniors on important issues, and this gave a massive shocker to the public that the law is only for the common man and not for influential ones. The absence of a strong district police chief during the recent past decreased the morale of the entire police force in the district; as a result, many unfortunate incidents on the part of a few police officers were reported. Some people in the district, who are unfortunately considered as important people, were involved in settling public issues in various police stations through their “Bicholiya” type activities, and this also lowered the credibility of Poonch police. Police officials were also seen surrounded by people with questionable credentials, and this factor also generated a negative impression in the minds of the common man about the lack of wisdom among the police officials. In addition to rising bovine smuggling, the drug mafia has also captured the entire district, but the inability of police in breaking this mafia also raised a big question mark on the professionalism of the Poonch police. Many youngsters lost their lives due to drugs, and many are suffering from drug-related diseases, but the inability of the intelligence network of police and top police officials to eliminate this drug mafia from the district indicates that due to the absence of strong police officers in the district, the drug mafia has spread its tentacles in almost every part of the district. Some police officials dodged everybody on the name of the war against drugs, but behind the curtains, they shamelessly earned a heavy favor from drug cases financially through a well-planned network of touts, and this shows that there was no shortage of crooked elements in the police. Even those involved in the drug trade were seen forming close links with the police officials openly, and this also generated a huge debate among the locals about the inefficiency of police officials. However, rising bovine smuggling trade, flourishing drug mafia, and the inability of police to book forces inimical to peace have shown that the district is not blessed with competent officers to increase the reputation of police in the eyes of the common man. Some police officials are also seen settling scores with their professional counterparts through their paid touts on the fourth platform as they used to leak internal information of the department to them. Professional zeal among some officials is missing to a large extent as they believe in hitting the financial bull’s eyes through their paid touts from several public issues. In the larger interest of security, there is also a need to strengthen the intelligence network of the police, as the district is facing many challenges from an internal security point of view. It is important to mention here that the Poonch district is highly sensitive on various accounts, but the absence of professional zeal among some police officers shows that the government has taken the Poonch district lightly, and it’s really a cause of concern. Despite being brought time and again into the public domain by “POONCH TODAY” about various issues of internal and external security, law and order issues, bovine smuggling, and the flourishing drug mafia, the government seems to have not addressed all the issues on priority. The district requires a strong team of professional police officers to take on all issues professionally and strongly to win the public’s confidence in the policing. A few police officers are strong, but they never got the support of their seniors. Will the government of J&K and LGs administration intervene and address the sensitivities of Poonch district with professional means? The district already bears the brunt of the rise in terror activities, and some major terror cases are still unsolved, which also raises a big question mark on the police. In addition to terror cases, drug mafia, bovine smuggling, encouraging people with questionable credentials, and not tackling forces inimical to peace strongly by police had lowered the credibility of Poonch police to a large extent, and it would be interesting to see how these public concerns of extreme importance will be addressed by the police in the district in the interest of internal security.