1300 more SPOs from Four Valley Districts of Manipur

IMPHAL, Jan 8 : After Heirok, the Union Home Ministry has approved recruitment of more than 1300 Special Police Officers (SPOs) for deployment in the four valley districts of Manipur. An official source informed The Sangai Express that the Home Ministry sanctioned recruitment of SPOs from Thoubal, Bishnupur, Imphal East and Imphal West districts for self-defence of the people. Subsequent upon the Home Ministry’s approval, the State Government has handed over the task of SPO recruitment to the State DGP. The State Cabinet has already decided to set up SPOs in interior areas where security forces could not reach effectively as well as in areas where the people asked for SPOs. There may be some differences in the functions of SPOs who would be recruited newly from those of Heirok SPOs. Unlike SPOs of Heirok, the SPOs who would be set up in all the four districts would be allowed deployment outside their localities, disclosed the sourceOn the other hand, Heirok SPOs who are currently housed at the 3rd IRB post at Heirok after completing training at Manipur Police Training School at Pangei would be inducted into service soon. They would be given duty of joint patrolling with IRB personnel. One police officer further informed that discussions are being made for construction of SPO barracks at the earliest. At present, the SPOs sleep at their homes even though they come to the IRB post to attend roll call and practise drill in the morning, the source added.