Date:10/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/09/10/stories/2007091050651500.htm

Back AP to beef up police force

Our Bureau

Hyderabad, Sept. 9

The State Government will strengthen the police force by recruiting over 15,000 personnel in a phased manner.

This was announced by the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, at a high-level review meeting with officials here on Sunday in the light of recent Maoist attack on former Chief Minster, Mr N. Janardhan Reddy.

“All steps will be taken to prevent terrorist and Maoist activities in the State by strengthening Armed Reserve Forces, bomb squad, and road opening teams, among others. The police force in the State is not proportional to the population,” the Chief Minister said.

Recruiting more

Currently, there are over 85,000 personnel in various cadres of the State police department. “The strength has not been increased significantly for the last 40 years. We are planning to recruit about 15,000 to 20,000 in a phased manner over next two/three years,” he said.

Increasing strength of police force would serve the twin purposes of providing employment to the youth and ensuring better policing, Mr Reddy observed.

Taking exception to the violence being propagated by the Maoists, he asked the intellectuals to come forward with suggestions to curb terrorism and extremism, according to a release.