"Looking to further strengthen intelligence gathering to deal with militants and anti-national elements in the state, we have setup the first spy school," Director General of Police Gopal Sharma said after its inauguration.

Flanked by the state intelligence chief, Director General of the Criminal Investigation Department Kuldeep Khuda, Sharma told reporters the institute will boost police functioning in dealing with militants.

The Intelligence Traning School will train officers and field staff to become ace spies in intelligence gathering, information warfare, political analysis, governance monitoring.  "CID officials were earlier sent outside the state for training. But now they will receive training in Jammu, enabling state police to take  pre-emptive action in both militancy and crime related activities," a senior CID official said.

Khuda said the school started functioning from Tuesday with the inauguaration and personnel will be trained according to a manual. Officials will also be trained by the school to project the people's viewpoint at different places to bring it to the government's notice, CID officers said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Counter Intelligence) Yoginder Koul will be the first principal of ITS, set up within the police intelligence headquarters.

Several orientation and refresher courses will be held for officials, and services of experts from outside the state will be taken, officials said.

"Besides gathering information ahead of incidents our field staff will also report public sentiments  from different areas," an official said.

"Sentiments are projected in the form of confidential fortnightly reports to be brought to the government's notice," he said.

They will also be trained in reconnaissance techniques for effective intelligence gathering, officials said. Authorities may also open a branch of ITS in Srinagar [Images] in the future, they said.