MUZAFFARABAD, Jan 6: Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan is likely to formally approve on Monday a plan to separate investigations into major crimes and watch and ward duties, Dawn learnt from reliable sources on Sunday.
In view of the meagre financial resources of the AJK, the sources said, the crime branch was being redesignated as investigation branch to be headed by the deputy inspector -general of police, headquarters.
According to the plan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir has been divided into two zones, Muzaffarabad and Mirpur, headed by the district superintendent of police of the respective zones.
Under the DSPs, there will be four inspectors and eight sub-inspectors (SIs) in the Muzaffarabad Zone and three inspectors and six SIs in the Mirpur Zone, besides an AIG, a DSP and two SIs at the headquarters.
Complainants will lodge first information reports (FIR) with the police of their areas. The FIRs will be categorized according to the nature of the crimes.
The cases relating to murder, dacoity, highway robbery and offences against women will be immediately communicated to the investigation branch, which will send the officer concerned to the scene of the crime.
Before the investigation officer moves for conducting a probe into the matter, the department will provide him with Rs5,000 to Rs10,000 as cost of investigation.
The investigating officer will submit the account of the expenses at the end of the case.
The cases under local and special laws, the prohibition act and other petty offences will, however, be dealt as usual by the police stations, apart from other watch and ward and protocol duties.
Two model police stations will be established, one each in the Muzaffarabad zone and the Mirpur zone, headed by an ASP.
The records of the model police stations will be computerized and linked with the relevant office of the superintendent of police.
The prime minister will be given a comprehensive briefing by AJK inspector-general of police, Syed Asif Ali Shah, on the performance and requirements of the police force at the central police office here on Monday.
According to the sources, the prime minister is likely to formally approve the plan, which will be formally launched next month.
From the next financial year, they added, a new cadre, scene of crime officers (SOCO), would also be created for speedy and effective investigations.
They said the federal government had agreed to provide transport for the investigation branch, besides funds for the establishment of a forensic science laboratory in Muzaffarabad to cater to the needs of basic tests in homicide cases.
Similarly, a crisis management centre has also been established in the CPO, which will function round the clock in case of any emergency.
The AJK government will provide Rs800,000 in the current financial year to the police, while the amount will be doubled in the next fiscal year.
The sources said district police safety commissions could not be constituted in Azad Kashmir unless the local bodies’ polls under the devolution of power plan were held here.