Srinagar : A blanket ban was announced on Thursday on the use of smartphones by police guards during duty hours in Jammu and Kashmir following a rising number of incidents of weapon snatching by militants.

In a detailed order, A.K. Choudhary, the Additional Director General of Armed Police, said: “It has been observed that recent weapon snatching incidents have occurred (as) sentries on duty remain engaged with their smartphones for most of the time, thereby compromising with their legitimate duty.

“This tendency has considerably increased and resulted in weapon snatching/killing of policemen in the state, particularly in the Valley.

“All guard personnel shall ensure compliance of the standing drill in letter and spirit.”

Besides imposing the ban on use of smartphones, the order also said that the weapon must be chained to the guard’s body as per the standard instructions contained in the drill for such duties.

—IANS