Kerala   

Steps for better policing

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has said that two companies of commandos will be formed in the State against the background of the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai.

Addressing the media after a conference of police officers here on Friday, the Minister said 15 proposals, including the one for the commando companies, were placed before the conference for review and implementation.

The companies, with a strength of 200 commandos, would be part of a 1,200-strong India Reserve Force in the State. The Public Service Commission would be approached for speedy recruitment of personnel for the force. The Police Academy at Thrissur would be the temporary headquarters of the force. A nodal officer would be appointed to oversee its formation. Mr. Balakrishnan announced that local and armed reserve wings of the police would be merged to improve their effectiveness. The service benefits of personnel of both the wings would be protected. The appointment of candidates to sports quota in police service would be resumed without affecting the seniority of serving personnel. Teams would be formed in volleyball, basketball and athletics.

The first of the eight coastal police stations proposed would be started this month itself. Buildings for the police stations had been exempted from the Coastal Zone Regulation Act.

Vigilance committees for coastal security would be formed shortly with the participation of fishermen. The Janasuraksha programme would be extended to 20 more police station limits.

The Minister said the policing system in Kochi, which had been identified as a strategically important city, would be modernised. A police complex would be set up as part of the programme.

A new marine subdivision of police would be formed for extending protection to institutions in small islands such as Njarackal, Vypeen and Mulavukadu. The police stations in the coastal areas would be modernised and strengthened. Modern facilities set up recently in Thiruvananthapuram would be established in Kochi and Kozhikode also. The Intelligence wing of the police would be modernised and expanded. The functioning of the forensic laboratory too would be improved. The Crime Branch would be restructured and modernised and steps taken to improve investigation of major cases.

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