From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, Dec 4: Bangalore, which has emerged as India’s fastest growing and upcoming metropolis, is facing a shortage of 18,000 policemen.

This was disclosed by none other than Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister R Ashok, who is also the State’s Home and Transport Minister.

The severe shortage of policemen in Bangalore, Ashok said, was one of the main reasons for the rising crime graph of the City.

On account of shortage of police staff, increased migration of people to Bangalore and creation of new housing colonies in the city led to increased crimes, the Deputy Chief Minister said.

The State finance department has been urged to approve sanctioned posts in the Home Department to maintain law and order and strengthen security in urban areas of the State, he said.

The Centre has also been requested to sanction more training schools to give regular training to police in the State.

The Deputy Chief Minister said Karnataka presently had barely two police training schools in the State, which were totally inadequate to meet the requirements of the State.

Steps would be taken to establish one training school in each district to ensure regular training to newly recruited police personnel, he said.

 There was also a need to reduce the training period from the existing nine months, Ashok said pointing out that it was advisable to give intensive training over a shorter period rather than taking too much time in training itself as it would lead to delays in infusing those recruited for policing work.