LEH, Oct. 6
Ladakh Police will induct 114 newly trained Special Police Officers for deployment across five newly created districts, strengthening its presence in some of the Union Territory’s most remote areas as the administration moves to expand policing capacity and modernise emergency services.
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena attended the passing-out parade and valedictory function at the Police Training School in Stongsar on Tuesday, where newly recruited personnel completed their training and 99 serving police personnel finished pre-promotional courses.
The 114 SPOs will be deployed in Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Drass and Zanskar. Their induction is expected to expand the police presence across areas where high altitude, difficult terrain, extreme weather and widely dispersed settlements pose particular operational challenges.
During the ceremony, Saxena inspected the parade and took the salute from the marching contingents. He also presented awards to trainees recognised as Overall Best, Indoor Best, Outdoor Best and Best Marchman, and felicitated the Chief Drill Inspector for his contribution to their training.
The passing-out parade also marked the completion of pre-promotional training for 99 serving personnel.
Eight Sub-Inspectors completed courses required for promotion to the rank of Inspector, while nine Assistant Sub-Inspectors trained for promotion to Sub-Inspector. Another 77 Head Constables completed training for promotion to Assistant Sub-Inspector, and five Police Followers underwent courses for induction as Constables.
Addressing the personnel, Saxena highlighted the conditions under which Ladakh Police operates, pointing to the Union Territory’s vast geographical spread, high-altitude locations, difficult terrain, severe weather and scattered population centres.
He said the induction of the new SPOs and professional advancement of serving personnel would strengthen the force’s ability to operate across Ladakh, particularly in areas where geographical conditions can make routine policing and emergency response more demanding.
The Lieutenant Governor also stressed that promotion within the police should be accompanied by greater responsibility and accountability rather than being viewed simply as advancement in rank.
He called for greater emphasis on legal knowledge, investigation skills, technology, discipline, integrity and professional conduct as policing requirements evolve.
The ceremony was accompanied by a series of initiatives covering police welfare and the Ladakh Fire & Rescue Service.
Saxena inaugurated four residential blocks containing 24 two-bedroom family quarters for eligible police personnel from the rank of Follower to Head Constable.
The housing complex has been constructed at a cost of ₹11.04 crore and designed to take into account Ladakh’s harsh climatic conditions.
Police housing remains an important logistical requirement in the region because personnel can be posted in locations where severe winters and limited civilian infrastructure complicate accommodation and family life.
The administration also unveiled the official emblem, flag, logo and shoulder, cap and belt badges of the Ladakh Fire & Rescue Service, giving the service a distinct institutional identity.
A dedicated website for the Fire & Rescue Service was launched at the event.
The platform is intended to provide residents and other stakeholders access to Fire NOC services, fire-safety guidelines, advisories, official forms, rules and regulations, emergency contact numbers and information about fire stations.
A Comprehensive Fire Safety Handbook for Ladakh was also released.
The handbook covers fire prevention, emergency response, evacuation procedures, rescue operations and public awareness, providing a common reference for both emergency personnel and residents.
The expansion of police and fire-service capacity comes as Ladakh works to extend government services across settlements separated by considerable distances and challenging terrain.
For the police, the deployment of 114 SPOs in Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Drass and Zanskar is particularly relevant because it adds personnel directly to districts where geography can increase response times and place additional demands on manpower.
The promotion-related training of another 99 personnel, meanwhile, strengthens the supervisory and middle ranks of the force.
Saxena said the combined measures — recruitment, professional training, improved accommodation and stronger fire-service infrastructure — were intended to make Ladakh’s security and emergency-response systems more modern, responsive and focused on public requirements.
He also paid tribute to personnel of Ladakh Police and the Ladakh Fire & Rescue Service for their work in maintaining security and responding to emergencies across the Union Territory.
With the training complete, attention will now move to the deployment of the 114 new SPOs across the five districts and the operational integration of personnel completing their promotional courses.
