Intelligence sources said a concerted effort was being made to deal a psychological blow to SPOs by inflicting casualty on them. What has alarmed militants is the recent SPO recruitment drive on Indo-Pak border.

The State Police, in an attempt to wean away local `boys' from militant outfits, had launched the SPO recruitment scheme some time back under which they were imparted training in handling weapons and provided a monthly stipend in return for helping security forces.

Though, initially, locals were reluctant to join the police, of late, the number of SPOs have swelled owing to various reasons. ``One, the boys were desperate for a stable financial option,'' a senior police officer said.

Scores of renegade militants were also absorbed as SPOs which helped security forces in terms of local hard intelligence. ``They were theones who were helping the militants and knew their hideouts and their transit routes. Their shifting loyalties definitely gives us an advantage,'' the officer added.

It is because of this that outfits like Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen have targeted SPOs instead of coming in direct confrontation with security forces. Police said during the last two months, more than 20 SPOs have been killed in the border districts of Rajouri, Poonch and Doda. Militants have also torched houses of the SPOs and threatened their families.

``Basically what is bothering them is that these SPOs have led us to several arms dumps in the district and also resulted in the killing of some top militants,'' explained a police officer in Doda.

Officials said it was not only the SPOs that were increasingly being targeted, but also Village Defence Committee (VDCs) members.