Andhra to increase police strength by 30 per cent

The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to strengthen the police force in the state in view of terror attacks and Maoist violence.

Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy has mooted a proposal for a 30 per cent increase in the state police force, that is, from the existing 90,000 to 1.2 lakh personnel and to strengthen the intelligence wing to maintain law and order and curb kidnappings, women trafficking, factionalism, robberies and other offences.

Dr Reddy held a high level meeting on Saturday to review the steps to be taken for strengthening of police force.

"The state government has recognized the need for increasing the police strength for effective maintenance of law and order and keeping in view increase in population and the incidence of terror attacks and Maoist violence in the state," he said.

He asked the police top brass to focus on increasing the police strength in a phased manner during the next five years and to provide them with sophisticated weapons and necessary training to have technical expertise.

Dr Reddy directed the home minister and the chief secretary to call for a meeting with senior police officials on September 24 to have detailed discussions on the functioning of police department, steps for strengthening the force and the budgetary requirements.

Another high level meeting is being convened by the chief minister on September 25 to take a final decision on the proposals and suggestions made at the meetings held by the home minister. The matter would be placed before the Cabinet at its meeting scheduled on September 28.