LADAKH POLICE: Formerly known as J&K Police, law enforcement unit in region takes on new name

Police in Ladakh had been using its old organisational name 'J&K Police' at all places, even after the abolition of Article 370 and reorganisation of the then state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu: In the latest development, the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh's police administration shall no longer be known by the insignias of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police as the UT has been accorded its own police force insignias and nomenclature, reports Indian Express.

Erstwhile known as J&K police, police force in the Union Territory of Ladakh will be henceforth called Ladakh Police. An order regarding the change in nomenclature was issued by Inspector General of Police, Ladakh, SS Khandare, on Saturday.

“Wherever organisational name ‘J&K Police’’ is written on any sign boards, police vehicles, letterheads, office stationeries, seals and other official items of UT Police should be replaced by the word “LADAKH POLICE’’ in capital letters henceforth’’, the order read.

“No police officer/official shall put on president police collar insignia of J&K Police on uniform,’’ the order underscored further, adding it has the approval of the competent authority.

Even after the abolition of Article 370 and reorganisation of the then state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, police in Ladakh had been using its old organisational name as ‘J&K Police’ at all places.

Jammu and Kashmir, on October 31, 2019, was officially bifurcated into the two union territories, marking the beginning of the functioning of the two UTs at a bureaucratic level. On August 5, 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill was passed by the Parliament and subsequently became an Act.

The development gains significance as even after the fulfilment of the long-term demand of Ladakhi people regarding the separation of UT of Ladakh from the erstwhile State of J&K, the police administration in Ladakh had been using its old organisational name "J&K Police" at all places.