Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, Mar 19: West Bengal is currently facing a significant shortage in its police force, with approximately 46,000 active police posts remaining vacant, as revealed by the state police directorate to the Election Commission of India (ECI). This data was submitted through the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal as part of the ECI’s early preparations for next year’s state assembly elections.

Out of the 46,000 vacant positions, around 30,000 are for constables, who form the foundation of the state’s police workforce. The remaining vacancies are distributed across various ranks, with a substantial number in the sub-inspector or equivalent ranks, which represent the lowest officer level in the force.

The total strength of the state police force currently stands at approximately 80,000 personnel, leaving more than one-third of the sanctioned posts unfilled. Despite the alarming vacancy rate, the data provided to the ECI did not include figures for civic volunteers, as these individuals are not authorized to perform election-related duties under current regulations. Furthermore, a directive from the Calcutta High Court prohibits the deployment of civic volunteers in law and order operations, and their use in roles beyond their sanctioned scope has drawn past criticisms.

As the state approaches the assembly elections, the Election Commission will determine the security arrangements, including the deployment of both state police forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), based on the available police strength.