Srinagar: With increasing incidents of special police officers (SPO) decamping with service weapons and joining terrorist ranks, the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday took stern action and ordered detachment of all the SPOs who are posted as personal security officers (PSO) of protected people.

The decision came after the SPO posted with MLA Wani Aijaz Mir decamped with weapons from the official residence of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) politician.

The SPO fled with seven rifles and joined the terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen. 

In the order issued by ADGP (law and order) Munir Khan, all senior superintendents of police (SSP) in Jammu and Kashmir were directed to immediately withdraw the SPOs from performing PSO duties. 

The copy of the order, available with MyNation, read, "Some SPOs are performing PSO duties with the protected persons which is not in accordance with the security norms as SPOs are not trained to perform PSO duties."
 
The order further said that no unit/SSP shall deploy any SPO for PSO duties and all the SPOs, except drivers, presently attached with protected people be immediately withdrawn. 

Moreover, range DIGs are expected to furnish a list of all SPOs withdrawn by October 5. In case any SPO does not report back, his honorarium may not be released and his nominal role be furnished so that his disengagement can be issued, according to the order. 

Recently, the Union government announced an increase in the honorarium of SPOs working with the Jammu and Kashmir Police. Depending on their service period, the honorarium can be increased from Rs 6,000 to Rs 12,000.