Police personnel stretched thin

Police personnel stretched thin

Preetu Nair, TNN

PANAJI: Police stations all over the state wore a deserted look on Wednesday afternoon as almost 90-95% of the staff are on duty for Thursday’s
Lok Sabha election. With the Centre turning down Goa’s request for paramilitary forces, the police have also had to withdraw about 80 officials providing security to “protected persons of Goa”.

“This has left police stations with a skeletal staff of hardly five to seven policemen each,” sources said.

Sources said a PSI and some constables would be on duty, handling the affairs and attending to visitors at police stations. “The staff posted at the police station will remain on duty for more than 48 hours from 12pm on Wednesday as there is no back-up staff,” said police sources.

Goa had sought 12 companies of paramilitary forces from the Centre for both districts, of which the Centre was ready to give four. “Planning for the elections was done keeping in mind that we would get paramilitary forces. Since no paramilitary force was deployed, we had to replan and mobilize the entire force,” said police officials. Of the 280 policemen attached to the security unit who guard “protected persons of Goa” (a category of VIPs), about 80 have been withdrawn and mobilized for poll duty.

Police sources said that a few of “the protected persons of Goa”, including some ministers, have been without bodyguards for two days.

Goa Police has a total manpower of 4,365, apart from the IRB whose strength is around 900 odd.










23 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition