Let me give you an example of shortages. In an area as sensitive to left wing insurgency as Dantewada (Chhattisgarh), there is only one police station, in Antagarh. Until a year ago, its sanctioned strength was 11. At a given time, six-seven policemen used to be present there. They were given no arms because there was a danger that the Naxalites [ Images ] would snatch their arms. The Naxalites were, of course, happy about this as overpowering the policemen would have taken them 40-60 minutes. Now, the strength has been increased to 30. We've deployed the Border Security Force there as well.
West Bengal [ Images ] is a classic case. When the Lalgarh operation (against Naxalites) was on, we posted the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) there, but the force was not familiar with local operations and language. So, we got the police station reinforced by policemen from Kolkata [ Images ]. One weekend, we found the police station was deserted. So, we made some enquiries. We were told that the policemen had left for Kolkata they belonged to the CPI(M) union and observed a five-day week.
http://news.rediff.com/interview/20...licemen-per-100000-people-in-india-is-130.htm
Expansion of paramilitary indicates inadequacies in state police : Chidambaram
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal...es-in-state-police-chidambaram_100266414.html
State governments reluctant to fill police vacancies: Chidambaram
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal...l-police-vacancies-chidambaram_100316198.html
Give priority to policing in state budgets: Chidambaram
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal...g-in-state-budgets-chidambaram_100315383.html
Need to regain control in Maoist-hit regions first: Chidambaram (Lead)
The first step in tackling the menace, the minister asserted, is for the civil administration to establish control in Maoist-dominated districts.
“First things first, the security forces must regain control. Once there is control, then the state government must rush in developmental resources,” he said.
Chidambaram said that it will be some time before results are seen on the ground.
“We need a strong head, strong heart and staying power for that,” he said.
The minister pointed out that the government had to reverse two decades of neglect of the police forces.
“We have 3,000 vacancies in police constabulary, 350 Indian Police Service officers (vacancies) in central government and equal in state government. Then, there is poor equipment, poor training and rising age of the armed police forces,” he pointed out.
Chidambaram said while police reforms was high on agenda of the central government, it can only be an advocate for change, and steps have to be taken by the state government.
The minister said Maoist groups will use “all their tricks” in the ongoing confrontation.
“They (Maoists) will seduce the media that they are doing. They will unleash terror, pull all strings to activate their frontal organizations including unsuspecting NGOS. They will try to widen their circle of influence.”
The home minister said the intellectual and material support by some unsuspecting NGOs and civil society is “making the task difficult for us as it confuses the people as what we are doing is right or not”.
“Let’s not forgot, the CPI-Maoist believes in armed liberal struggle to overthrow elected government. There is no half-way house, either you accept or reject (it),” said Chidambaram.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal...regions-first-chidambaram-lead_100323099.html