Imphal, May 18: Sticking to its earlier proposition that it would oppose utilisation/engagement of SPO personnel in counter insurgency operations, the JAC formed in the aftermath of the Heirok firing incident has asserted it would closely study contents of SPO guidelines prior to accepting actual setting up of SPOs in Heirok.

Despite the renewed assertion of the JAC, the Government had set into motion recruitment exercises for enrolling 300 SPOs in Heirok village of Thoubal district.

Plans are also afoot to recruit 200 SPOs for deployment/stationing at Lilong Chajing.

It may be recalled that people of Heirok and Lilong Chajing had demanded weapons from the Government to protect themselves from unwanted elements following incidents of gun firing some months back that claimed the lives of four persons apart from injuring a teenage girl.

"The SPOs will only protect Heirok and its surrounding villages from rebels' threat.

We will, however study the guidelines being prescribed for SPOs of jammu and Kashmir and which is being intended for application in Heirok and Lilong Chajing and take a definite decision accordingly," said JAC secretary Laishram mandir.

"if we are satisfied with the guidelines we will accept setting up SPOs at our village," he opined while adding that "instead of SPOs we actually want them recruited as regular State force personnel so that a long term policy commensurate with our objective of self protection is realised".

It is also pertinent to add that atleast 460 youths of Heirok and nearby villages have already cleared the physical test for enrolment as SPOs which was conducted on may 5 under the direct supervision of the State's Director General of Police Y Joykumar Singh.