Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 05:
Despite the sharp rise in insurgency and crime rate in the State, the total strength of the State Police Dept has dwindled considerably in the last few decades with the present strength even less than the total number of personnel absorbed intb the Dept when the State Police was first reorganised in 1972.According to a reliable source, the manpower of the State Police Dept has not been augmented for the last thirty years thereby creating a lot of inconveniences to the police personnel who have to tackle both the insurgency problems as well as petty crimes with limited resources.
The total strength of the State Police Dept including both the high ranking officials and sepoys was estimated to be about 5000/6000 at the time when the State police was reorganised in 1972, said the report adding that 2000 sanctioned post which was set up during the police reorganisation is presently lying vacant.
Even though it is necessary to increase the strength of the Police Dept from time to time to keep in tune with the increasing population, the State Govt has failed to take up steps on the matter thereby increasing the workload of the police personnel.
Citing an example on the over work load of the state police officers, sources said that a police officer even while investigating a particular case is forced to leave the case and escort a particular Minister or bureaucrat when any emergency arises.
On being questioned whether the Centre has any plans to increase the manpower of the State Police Dept in the near future, sources said that it is the State Govt which decides On whether to increase or decrease the strength of the State Police Dept and but hastened to add that the Center was helping the State Govt in modernising the State Police Dept by providing sophisticated weapons and vehicles.
Sources also informed that the State Police Department had already submitted many proposals to the State Govt for filling up th 2000 vacant post as well as increasing the strength of the Police Dept but the Govt has not been able to convert the proposal into concrete actions due to shortage of funds.