[Reader-list] Why Kashmir defies solutions

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Khaki enemy? 60,000 Kashmiris apply for 3,000 police jobs
M Saleem Pandit, TNN, Sep 7, 2010, 01.30am IST
SRINAGAR: Despite reports of desertions in its ranks and threats of social
boycott, J&K police has emerged as a big draw for young job hunters in
employment-starved Kashmir. Ignoring calls by hardliners to shun the khaki
force, nearly 60,000 men applied for less than 3,000 jobs in J&K police --
about 200 applicants for one constable's post.

The applications piled up over the last few months, about the time when the
situation in the Valley appeared to be spinning out of control with the cops
particularly being at the receiving end of public wrath.

J&K police DG Kuldeep Khoda said the department has received 58,975
applications, against 2,786 vacancies across the Valley. "The response from
(the worst-hit) Srinagar and Budgam districts was even more heartening," he
said. "We've received 2,860 applications, against 529 posts in Srinagar
district, while 8053 against 283 in Budgam," he said.

Lack of jobs has been a big spur for the protests that brought thousands of
young educated men on to the streets. Official estimates of the number of
unemployed in the Valley stands at 3 lakhs.

Khoda told reporters the department held a recruitment rally in Baramulla
district in July and was overwhelmed with the response. "Over 8,000 people
turned up for 412 posts despite turmoil in the district," he said, and added
that even stone-pelters attended the rally. He said the department was
mulling more on-the-spot recruitment drives across the Valley, particularly
in Srinagar's downtown area to end the unrest.

The top cop rubbished reports on desertions and insubordination. He claimed
no police personnel had quit since mid-June when Kashmir erupted in anger
against the alleged staged encounter of three north Kashmir youth and a
17-year-old boy's killing in police action. Over 60 people, including women
and children, have died in police firing on protesters since then.

State government sources said J&K CM Omar Abdullah, who has called for a
proactive approach including the phased revocation of the controversial
Armed Forces Special Forces Act to deal with street protests, has ordered
creation of more police jobs to induct youth from the troubled areas.

Meanwhile, in its ongoing drive to reach out to the people, Kashmir range
IGP Kashmir, S M Sahai, attended police-public meetings in Ganderbal and
Budgam districts. "At Ganderbal District Police Lines, around 300 people
including senior citizens and sarpanchs participated," a police spokesman
said. "Sahai assured the people that police will adopt maximum restraint
while dealing with law and order situations."