Manpower boost for Delhi police

New Delhi: The Union home ministry has cleared a proposal to add 15,000 more personnel to the Delhi police and it awaits the finance ministry’s nod, Union home minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday.

Mr Singh made the announcement at a mega police event here where ranks were awarded to 24 personnel out of the 27,000 promoted this year. “I feel Delhi police strength is not adequate. It has to increase. The proposal pertaining to recruitment of 15,000 personnel have been sent to the finance ministry by the home ministry. I hope the approval will be received soon,” he said. Those who were present on the occasion included ministers of state (home) Kiren Rijiju, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and Delhi police commissioner Alok Verma.

Mr Singh said it was “raining promotions” in Delhi police as “no where” have so many personnel been promoted together. He lauded Mr Verma’s efforts toward removing the stagnation in promotion.

“Promotions are in short supply in police as well as in paramilitary forces and when it happens, the person is on the last leg of his career. I had told the police commissioner to promote personnel when it is due without any hesitation,” Mr Singh said. According to official data, Delhi police at present has a total sanctioned strength of around 82,242, of which 77,083 are filled.

The home minister further said that policing the national capital was a difficult and challenging task as it has a large floating population and a character quite different from other cities. He said there are many who do not acknowledge these difficulties.

The home minister said there will be no political pressure on police to release any criminal and that police should not succumb to any such pressure.