Jammu, 14 May: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has today accorded sanction to setting up of Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) to deal with the menace of drugs and drug peddlers in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) will have a strength of 100 Police Personnel which will include one SSP, two DySsP, nine Inspectors, eighteen Sub Inspectors, eighteen Assistant Sub Inspectors and 52 Selection Grade/Constables. Fifty percent of Sub Inspectors posted in the wing will be direct recruits. The force will be under the overall superintendence and Control of Inspector General of Police, Crime J&K

Director General of Police J&K Shri Dilbag Singh has thanked the Lt. Governor Shri G C Murmu and his administration. He said that the creation of force on police proposal will help in fighting the drug menace in the UT. He said that the force will be yet another special wing within the Police department to deal with crimes related to drugs and their trafficking.

The Anti Narcotics Task Force shall also deal with the emerging threats of Narco Terrorism in the Union Territory. In the recent past instances of Pakistan sponsored terrorist outfits indulging in Narco Trade Money for purchase of weapons and funding terrorist activities had surfaced which are under strict watch and probe by Jammu and Kashmir Police. An OGW associate of Riyaz Naikoo recently eliminated by JKP along with other Security Forces was caught with Rs 29 lakhs in Panjab. This money was also to be used for terror funding in Jammu Kashmir.

Pertinent to mention that yesterday the UT Government ordered increase in the training allowance from 10% to 12%. It was 10% in old grades which comes to about 2/3 percent as per the 7th Central Pay Commission grades. This sanction is 12% at 7th pay commission which is much higher than what training staff was getting so far.

These back to back sanctions have been hailed by the Officers and Personnel of the Jammu Kashmir Police department.