Panchkula district police battle staff shortage

Sanjay Bumbroo

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, December 25

The district police are facing shortage of staff as the department is functioning with the strength approved on the 1991 Census even though new police stations and police posts were created after Panchkula was declared a district in 1995.

Sec 14 police station, 5 posts sans staff

• The RTI reply revealed that not a single post had been sanctioned for the Sector 14 police station. Besides, there are five police outposts in Sector 2, 6, 10, Ramgarh and Madhawala where not a single post has been approved. Interestingly, these police posts are still functioning.

Although the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) has written letters to the top officials, no action has been taken to improve the khaki strength.

In reply to an RTI application, the DCP stated that a proposal had been sent to the top officials on December 8 last year for approving a total of 841 posts, including 42 of sub-inspector, 106 of assistant sub-inspector, 215 of head constable and 478 of constable.

In the motor transport branch of the local police, only 78 cops have been approved for 100 four-wheelers while this branch needs another 240 men in uniform. As many as 81 cops are required for PCR vehicles and motorcycles, which have not approved posts.

As per a report of the Bureau of Police Research and Development, 114 cops are required in each police station, but on an average there are only 20 to 30 in each police station of Panchkula. Now, the situation is that no police personnel are on deputation in the Police Commissionerate, Panchkula, whereas a total of 320 cops from here are on deputation in other stations while about 300 police personnel are on duty at the Haryana Police Headquarter and on temporary duty with various units of the Haryana Police. This comes to 25 per cent of the total sanctioned strength of the Panchkula police.

The RTI reply revealed that not a single post had been sanctioned for the Sector 14 police station. Besides, there are five police outposts in Sector 2, 6, 10, Ramgarh and Madhawala where not a single post has been approved. Interestingly, these police posts are still functioning.

Vijay Bansal, an advocate and president of Shivalik Vikas Manch, has sent a letter to state Home Minister Anil Vij on behalf of the general public and requested for providing providing force in all police stations and police posts in the district to maintain law and order.

Bansal said according to the RTI reply, Panchkula district bordered the two states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and a UT, Chandigarh, and there was a need for increasing the detective staff in the crime branch to check unlawful activities. At present, only 28 posts are approved for the crime branch, while the requirement is of 60 posts. Similarly, only 19 posts are approved for the detective wing, for which a total of 53 posts are required.

Bansal said the then Chief Minister late Bhajan Lal had approved six police stations and four police posts for Panchkula district when its total population as per the 1991 Census was 3,10,396. The district population rose to 5,61,396 in the 2011 Census. At present, there are 11 police stations and 16 police posts in the district.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.