475 SPOs killed since eruption of militancy in J-K

Jammu: A total of 475 Special Police Officers have been killed since eruption of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, the government said today.
475 SPOs have laid down their lives in terrorist incidents since eruption of militancy in the state, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said in reply to a question in the Assembly.
Regarding payment of compensation to the next of kin of the deceased SPOs, he said that power to grant ex-gratia in this respect is vested with the DGP since March 2001.
Out of 265 cases received since March 2001, 262 have been settled for which Rs 5, 19, 50,000 was sanctioned, while remaining three cases are under process.
With regard to compassionate appointments in this respect, Abdullah said the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of the concerned districts are vested with the powers of making such appointments.