Top cop demands more men for sharp vigil

The Delhi police chief has demanded 54,195 more cops to maintain law and order in the city.

In a letter written to the ministry of home affairs by Delhi police, it has been stated that the city needs additional 54,195 policemen to its sanctioned strength at each level starting from senior police officials to constables.

Joint commissioner of police (headquarters) Praveer Ranjan said that the high-level committee set up in June had submitted the report last month after which the letter was sent to the MHA through the L-G. The current status of the letter remains that it has received the L-G’s nod and the final approval is awaited.

“The committee looked into several norms of recruitment and as per those norms, calculated the shortage in every unit, district, and even at the level of police station and then came up with the final figure,” said Mr Ranjan, himself a member of the committee.

The committee also comprised the joint secretary (Union Territory) of the MHA and special commissioner of police (New Delhi range).

Mr Ranjan added that the recruitment will be carried out in three phases in the next three financial years and the final revised strength would also factor in the retirements in these years and on the promotions already announced. The final figure would, ho-wever, cross the one lakh mark, said Mr Ranjan.

“Earlier when a similar request was placed, MHA recommended that the police should focus on technology rather than increase the manpower. But we need policemen to operate technology because there is no substitute to beat policing,” said a senior police official.

The country’s sanctioned police-population ratio is 145:1 but in Delhi there is only one policeman for a population of 1,100. If the ratio improves, then it will definitely help control crime, said a police official.

“We are permanently under modernisation with projects like criminal dossier systems, online applications, additional patrols, traffic units, cyber cell, women help desk etc. All this required a manpower boost to sustain the modernisation drive,” said a senior police official.

At present, the Delhi police falls short of its sanctioned strength of policemen. The sanctioned strength is 86,653, but is has only 78,194 policemen.