SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government promoted the Additional Director General of Kashmir Police, Vijay Kumar, to the ADGP Law and Order of Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday.
IPS officer Vidhi Kumar Birdi was also promoted to Inspetor General of Police, Kashmir.
In the interest of administration, the order issued by the J&K Home department read, “Vijay Kumar, ADGP Kashmir, is transferred and posted as ADGP (Law & Order), J&K. A post in the rank of ADGP viz. ADGP (Law & Order), J&K, is temporarily added to the J&K Segment of AGMUT Cadre, in terms of 2nd proviso to sub-rule (2) of Rule 4 of the Indian Police Service (Cadre) Rules, 1954, for a period of two years or till the post is held by said officer, whichever is earlier.”
The order further stated that the Zonal IGSP of Jammu and Kashmir should report to ADGP (Law & Order), J&K, under the overall command and control of DGP, J&K.
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Under the leadership of ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar who was posted as the IGP of Kashmir Zone immediately after the abrogation of Article 370, 605 terrorists have been eliminated during his tenure from December 2019 to November 2023. The initiatives taken under the commandment of Vijay Kumar included a new funeral & burial policy that was brought and dead bodies of more than 550 terrorists were not buried in their native villages rather they were buried in border areas in the presence of family and a magistrate. This completely stopped the glamorisation of terrorists and helped in drastic reduction in recruitment of youth into terror ranks. Under his leadership, J&K witnessed an incident-free conduct of the first ever District Development Council (DDC) elections.
Having vast experience in anti-terrorism operations, Kumar has also served as the Inspector General in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the Maoist areas of Bastar in Madhya Pradesh, according to officials.
According to officials, during his tenure post the death of Hurriyat Conference secessionist, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, in September 2021, there were zero reported civilian casualties by law enforcement agencies during law and order situations, including minimum collateral damage during encounters and dramatic reduction in youth recruitment into terrorism — from 210 in 2018 to 10 in 2023.
Kumar is also credited with successful conduct of the third G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting in May, Amarnath Yatra in 2022 and 2023, and allowing Muharram procession in Srinagar city after 34 years besides facilitating an incident-free ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ of the Congress in January, the officials said.
On the other hand, the new IGP of Kashmir, V K Birdi, is a 2003 batch IPS officer of the AGMUT Cadre and has served in J&K in many capacities. Birdi has served as SDPO Kothibagh Srinagar, SP East Srinagar, SSP Kupwara, SSP SSG J&K, DIG North Kashmir and DIG Central Kashmir range. During his central deputation, VK Birdi had successful stints in the CBI, NIA, and CRPF as well.