JK: Sopore becomes a separate police district

To effectively deal with the law and order situation, the Jammu and Kashmir government announced the carving out of a separate police district in north Kashmir Sopore town.

The town, 54 km from summer capital Srinagar, has seen a rise in militant violence in recent days, prompting the state government to create a separate police district for the area.

Sopore was earlier part of north Kashmir Baramulla district, but it will now have its own district police chief.

A senior police officer, Altaf Ahmad Khan has been deputed as the new police chief of the Sopore police district.

Kashmir valley has two more police districts created earlier in north Kashmir Handwara and south Kashmir Awantipore areas as a measure to effectively deal with the law and order problems and control militancy.

Recently Sopore town witnessed a bloody militant attack that left a cop and a civilian dead and seven others wounded.

"Orders to create the separate police district in Sopore have been issued and the state director general of police, Kuldeep Khuda will inaugurate it today," said a senior police officer.