Date:10/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/10/stories/2008121050080100.htm

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Plan to recruit 5,000 more police personnel

Staff Reporter

Police equipped to meet terror threat: Kodiyeri

PSC will be asked to make appointments
350 personnel got commando training

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan says the police will make full use of modern technology.

MALAPPURAM: Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said here on Tuesday that 5,000 more personnel would be inducted into the police.

The Public Service Commission will be asked to make the appointments, he said after inaugurating circle inspector offices at Manjeri and Tirurangadi and the Passport Cell attached to the office of the Superintendent of Police.

The Minister said the police were equipped to tackle any situations created by militants and terrorists. “Our force has the capability to deal with any threat from militants and terrorists,” he said.

Mr. Balakrishnan said 350 personnel had got commando training.

Allegation denied

“The allegation that our force is not equipped to deal with a terror strike is deliberately made to create fear in the public and to destroy the morale of the Kerala Police,” he said.

The Minister said the proposed Indian Reserve Battalion would have its headquarters at Pandikkad in the district. There would be 1,200 personnel and two battalions from them would be given commando training.

He said 64 police stations in the State functioned in rented buildings. They would be shifted to own buildings in two years.

Even while underscoring that the police were ready to face any emergency, the Minister said lathis alone would not help the force to win. “We should make full use of modern technology,” he said.

He said modern equipment and gadgets would be procured to increase the efficiency of the police force. Two control rooms with modern facilities would be set up in Kochi and Kozhikode.

The Minister warned that stringent action would be taken against those attempting to cheat the police with false messages.

M. Ummer, MLA, presided. Additional Director-General of Police K.S. Jangpangi; Inspector- General of Police (Thrissur range) P. Vijayanand; and Superintendent of Police M. Patmanabhan spoke.