Data shows lack of police in state

Mumbai: The data received through Right To Information (RTI) shows that despite the huge demand of increase in police personnel, Maharashtra government has approved much little. There is demand of increase of more than 61 thousand more police personnel but state government has approved only 2733 posts. The budget constraint is the reason cited for such less approval.

According to the data sought by RTI activist Jeetendra Ghadge, in Maharashtra there is demand of 61,494 police. But, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government has approved only 2733 posts since it came to power in 2014. RTI data also shows that earlier Congress - Nationalist Congress Party government had recruited 22,864 posts from 2011 to 2014. But this pace of recruitment has got slowdown since 2014.

“Budget constraint is the major reason why new post creation has taken a back sit. For example, in Pimpri-Chinchwad commissioner office and new police post 180 crore has been sanctioned. Although considering the importance of policing to control the law and order situation in Maharashtra, it’s not much. Unfortunately the government is giving priorities to spend on building statutes, advertising, etc,” said Mr Ghadge.  

Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam on Thursday attacked the BJP government over its failure in ensuring safety to Mumbaikars and the people of the state as they couldn’t fulfill the demand for additional police personnel in Maharashtra.

Mr Nirupam also held the government responsible for increasing crime rate in the city. “Consistent delay in recruitment has led to increasing pressure on the available police force,” he added.