On Friday, 27th September, an order was passed by the government which stated that a senior army officer will train and lead a police unit in Jammu and Kashmir. This order was issued by Chandraker Bharti, principal secretary of the J&K home department.
The order issued by the home department Jammu and Kashmir stated, “In the interest of administration, sanction is hereby accorded to the appointment of Colonel Vikrant Prasher, Para, High Altitude Warfare School Gulmarg, from Indian Army has been appointed as SSP (Training) and Special (Ops) in J&K Police on deputation basis with immediate effect.”
This decision of appointing the senior army officer as SSP has come, when Jammu and Kashmir is dealing with an increase in militant activities.
The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti questioned the unusual appointment of an army officer as SSP on social media and wrote, “We are told J&K has the same rights and rules as applied elsewhere in the country. Wonder why & under what special status is the local admin ordering the most unusual appointment of a Colonel as SSP in J&K police?”
Who is Colonel Vikrant Prasher?
The senior army officer who has got appointed as the SSP in Jammu and Kashmir is Colonel Vikrant Prasher. He is currently presently posted at Para High Altitude Warfare School, Gulmarg. Now, he has received the order to train and lead a police unit in the J&K as the Senior Superintendent of Police for two years.
Colonel Vikrant Prasher has also received the Shaurya Chakra after successfully completing a mission. The Shaurya Chakra is an Indian military award which is given o the soldiers for their courageous action or self-sacrifice.
In August 2018, category A++ terrorist's presence was confirmed in the Central Kashmir. After getting this news, Lieutenant Colonel Vikrant Prasher and three other ranks displayed their courage and eliminated the terrorist’s leader in a busy market place in Kashmir.
Lieutenant Colonel Vikrant Prasher came face to face with the terrorists and firefight began. He then skilfully eliminated the terrorist leader and successfully retrieved his small team from the crowd. For displaying this bravery, he got awarded with the Shaurya Chakra and got promoted as Colonel.