|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| {{distinguish|Special Operation Group}}
| | #REDIRECT [[Special Operations Group (Jammu and Kashmir)]] |
| {{short description|Anti-insurgency force of the Jammu and Kashmir Police}}
| | |
| {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
| | {{Redirect category shell| |
| {{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
| | {{R from move}} |
| {{Infobox law enforcement agency | |
| | formedmonthday = | |
| | formedyear = March 1994
| |
| | employees = 2300+
| |
| | country = Jammu and Kashmir (union territory){{!}}Jammu and Kashmir
| |
| | countryabbr =
| |
| | speciality1 = Anti-insurgency
| |
| }} | | }} |
|
| |
| The '''Special Operations Group''' ('''SOG'''; also known as '''Jammu and Kashmir anti-militancy Task Force''' and '''JKP''' '''anti-militancy Task Force''') is a 2300+-strong elite anti-insurgency force chosen from more than 100,000 troopers of the [[Jammu and Kashmir Police]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Assad|first=Bashir|date=2019-07-25|title=Lead Role of JK Police, Synergy in Anti-Terrorist Operations|url=https://www.vifindia.org/article/2019/july/25/lead-role-of-jk-police-synergy-in-anti-terrorist-operations|access-date=2020-08-12|website=VIF India|language=en}}</ref> It was raised in 1994 with the idea of "involving the passive Jammu and Kashmir Police in the anti-terrorist activities and giving a local face to these operations".<ref name=":3" /> The J&K police has since been very competent and on the frontlines in anti-terror activities. The SOG members are also the first targets of the militant groups and local separatists alike.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/mufti-disbands-sog-merges-force-with-police/articleshow/38495217.cms?intenttarget=no|title=Mufti disbands SOG, merges force with police|last=Hussain|first=Masood|date=2003-02-25|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2017-11-24}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Peer|first=Basharat|date=October 2020|title=SOG: Good guys or bad guys?|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2002/oct/31spec.htm|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Rediff}}</ref>
| |
|
| |
| The SOG till date conducts joint operations with other security forces in the region; one example is the 13 March 2000 operation in which [[Hizbul Mujahideen]] commander [[Hamid Gada]]<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|last=Swami|first=Praveen|author-link=Praveen Swami|date=1 April 2000|title=The killing of Hamid Gada|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/article30253667.ece|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812055012/https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/article30253667.ece|archive-date=12 August 2020|access-date=2020-08-12|website=Frontline (The Hindu)|language=en}}</ref> was killed, and the 6 May 2020 operation in which Hizbul chief [[Riyaz Naikoo]] was killed.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Das|first=Shaswati|date=2020-05-06|title=Hizbul Mujahideen chief Riyaz Naikoo killed in encounter in Kashmir|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/hizbul-mujahideen-chief-riyaz-naikoo-killed-in-encounter-in-kashmir-11588757433866.html|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Livemint|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Jameel|first=Yusuf|date=2020-05-06|title=Burhan Wani's successor Riyaz Naikoo killed in Kashmir gunfight|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/060520/burhan-wanis-successor-killed-in-kashmir-gunfight.html|access-date=2020-08-12|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en}}</ref> SOG are well trained and fight shoulder to shoulder with other forces ..<ref name=":4">Chandran, D. Suba. (December 2008) IPCS Issue Brief 88. ''[https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep09199?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents Fighting Terrorism: Strengthen and Modernize the State Police]''. Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, 2008, www.jstor.org/stable/resrep09199. Accessed 14 Aug. 2020.</ref>
| |
|
| |
| == Overview ==
| |
| In every district of the state, the Special Operations Group is headed by Superintendent Police (operations) or Deputy Superintendent Police (operations).<ref name=":3" /> The recruits of the Special Operations Group are young men from all the regions of the state and reflect Jammu and Kashmir's various ethnic groups: [[Kashmiri people|Kashmiris]], [[Gujjar]]s, [[Dogra]]s and [[Sikh]]s. Many of them have been the victims of militancy in the state. The group is a volunteer force comprising police officers and policemen. The volunteers come for different reasons: some genuinely want to fight anti-India insurgents, while some are motivated by the incentives offered.<ref name=":3" /> In 2020, a BBC report said that every militant killed by the group earns it between {{INRConvert|35|k}} and {{INRConvert|50|k}}, according to a police officer. Bonuses are paid for arresting the militants and capturing arms and ammunition. Other incentives for SOG personnel include out-of-turn promotions.<ref name=":1" />
| |
|
| |
| Whenever there is a militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir, SOG personnel are the first ones to reach the spot.<ref name=":3" /> In addition, SOG personnel have been regularly called in to control [[Stone pelting in Kashmir|stone pelting incidents]] (usually [[CRPF]] does that in Valley) when the situation gets out of control for local police.<ref name=":3" /> SOG has also conducted many cordon and search operations (CASO) in the main commercial hub of [[Lal Chowk]]. The group usually does not wear [[khaki]] uniform instead they wear camouflage uniform and cover their faces all the time. This elite force is said to set a dangerous precedent where armed officers are awarded promotions and money rewards for every terrorist eliminated. It is said to be the cause of many false shooting incidents where teenagers pelting stones are termed as violent armed terrorists.<ref name=":1" />{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}
| |
|
| |
| In 2016, there were reports that SOG operations were being "thwarted" by hostile youth.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Narayanan|first=M. K.|date=2016-05-30|title=Adrift in the Valley|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/Adrift-in-the-Valley/article14346052.ece|access-date=2020-08-12|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In 2019, the Special Operations Group (SoG) in each district of Jammu and Kashmir were given targets of "one or two terrorists they need to track and ''target single-mindedly''". Assigning individual targets was a change from how militants were tracked previously.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sen|first=Sudhi Ranjan|date=2019-11-22|title=Over two dozen terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir Police's cross-hairs|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/over-two-dozen-terrorists-in-j-k-police-s-cross-hairs/story-ByR3mCpRuSRKcVECOls0pO.html|access-date=2020-08-12|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> SOG are also given training by the [[National Security Guard]] (NSG).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sandhu|first=Kamaljit Kaur|date=28 December 2016|title=NSG trains anti-insurgent 'Special Operation Group' of Jammu Kashmir Police|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nsg-anti-insurgent-special-operation-group-jammu-kashmir-police-360036-2016-12-28|access-date=2020-08-14|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>
| |
|
| |
| == Criticism ==
| |
|
| |
| === Usage of excessive force ===
| |
| The SOG was notorious for alleged human rights violations.{{Efn|"wherever the forces operate, whether the army, paramilitary, or the SOG, there are (always) allegations of abuse."<ref name=":0" />|name=|group=}}<ref name=":4" /> So much so that [[Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party|JK Peoples Democratic Party]] (JK PDP) made it an election promise. [[Mehbooba Mufti]], who was the PDP Vice-President at the time, was quoted saying that the first thing they would do once in power was disband the SOG.<ref name=":1" />
| |
|
| |
| {{Quote|text=A commission would be set up to inquire into the allegations against Special Operations Group/security forces relating to disappearances and custodial killings. We demand stern punishment for those responsible for custodial killings.|author=|title=|source=People's Democratic Party manifesto}}
| |
|
| |
| In 2003, when the JK PDP came into power, the SOG was disbanded.<ref name=":0" /> However today the SOG are considered a model anti-insurgency force which could be replicated in other states.<ref name=":4" />
| |
|
| |
| == Leadership ==
| |
| [[Farooq Khan|Farooq Khan, IPS]] was the first head of the Special Operations Group.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|date=17 August 2016|title=Former J&K top cop Farooq Khan is new Administrator of Lakshadweep|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/former-jk-top-cop-farooq-khan-is-new-administrator-of-lakshadweep/articleshow/53741858.cms?from=mdr|access-date=2020-08-09}}</ref>
| |
|
| |
| ==See also==
| |
| * [[Counter Insurgency Force]] (West Bengal)
| |
| * [[Special Operation Group (Odisha)|Special Operation Group]] (Odisha)
| |
| * [[Greyhounds (police)]]
| |
| * [[Force One (Mumbai Police)]]
| |
| * [[Punjab Police SWAT Team]]
| |
| *[[Kerala Thunderbolts]]
| |
|
| |
| == Notes ==
| |
| {{Notelist}}
| |
|
| |
| ==References==
| |
| <references />
| |
|
| |
| [[Category:Government of Jammu and Kashmir]]
| |
|
| |
| {{India-mil-stub}}
| |
This page is a redirect. The following categories are used to track and monitor this redirect: