From Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore, May 12: FREED of the restrictions imposed by the Election Commission under the electoral model code of conduct, the B S Yeddyurappa-led BJP regime has decided to recruit a huge 9,431 police
personnel, including sub-inspectors, as part of the measures to strengthen the police force in Karnataka.
As many as 1,800 city armed reserve  and district armed reserve policemen, 4,200 civil policemen, 375 sub-inspectors and 25 intelligence personnel will be recruited shortly, according to Karnataka’s Home Minister Dr V S Archarya.

Briefing reporters on the outcome of a detailed review meeting with department officials held on Monday, Dr Acharya said 2,853 vacancies in Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and 177 vacancies of reserve
sub-inspectors would be filled. A final notification for filling vacancies in City Armed Reserve Police (CARP) and District Armed Reserved Police (DARP) would be issued in a month to invite applications from eligible candidates.

The general category candidates, with the minimum age fixed at 25 years, can apply for constable posts in CARP and DARP. The minimum age for candidates belonging to other backward classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is 27 years. All candidates should have a height of 168 cms while those applying for KSRP constables’ posts should have height of 170 cms. The minimum education qualification is SSLC pass.

For sub-inspector posts, the minimum age for general category candidates is 26 years and 28 years for reserve category candidates.

The minimum educational qualification is bachelor’s degree. The Department would conduct endurance, physical, written and medical tests for all categories. There would be interviews for candidates applying for the posts of sub-inspectors and reserved sub-inspectors. All recruitments would be completed within a span of nine months from the date of the final notification inviting applications, the minister said.
He explained that there was shortage of police personnel in the department owing to establishment of more police stations and creation of separate intelligence security wing.

The State Cabinet has decided to give more teeth to the Karnataka Organised Crime Act (KOCA) to contain organised crimes such as terrorism. A Bill would be introduced in the forthcoming session of
the State legislature to discuss the proposed amendments in the legislation. An ordinance would be issued only if the legislature session could not held by June or July, Dr Acharya said.

The minister debunked the criticism of the oppposition Congress leaders on the State’s financial position and said the fiscal position of the State was healthy and much better compared to other states. The
Government would bring in changes to enable agricultural land conversions which would increase revenue from stamps and registration of properties, he said.