As part of the ongoing modernisation programme, the State police are acquiring modern weaponry, gadgets and protective shields at a cost of Rs. 200 crore, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said on Friday.
Presenting the President and Chief Minister’s police medals to 549 police, prison and fire service personnel here, she said 14,611 vacancies at various levels in the force would be filled soon. In the current year, 223 police stations, 10,704 residential quarters and other buildings were being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,695 crore.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said that after assuming office as Chief Minister for the third time, she relieved the police department from the clutches of power centres and paved the way for the force to function without any interference. Lands grabbed from innocent people were retrieved and restored to the legitimate owners.
Better infrastructure in terms of vehicles, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) network and other modern equipment were provided to enhance the efficiency of the police. On the welfare front, the government increased allowances to police personnel besides establishing canteens and enhancing medical facilities. Though technology crimes were on the rise, investigators were using the same technology to solve such cases. Police should face challenges with courage, the Chief Minister said and added that the people would be happy if the police gave a patient hearing to their grievances and took prompt action as per law.
S. Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar, Superintendent of Police, received the Police Medal for Gallantry for 2010. Additional Director Generals of Police K.P. Mahendran, S.R. Jangid, C.K. Gandhirajan, J.K. Tripathy, Sanjeev Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Srilakshmi Prasand, M.K. Jha, Ashihsh Bengra and Tamil Selvan were among the medal recipients.
G. Chandrasekhar representing the Home Guards presented Rs. 16.81 lakhs towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Chief Secretary Sheela Balakrishnan, Home Secretary Niranjan Mardi, Director-General of Police K. Ramanujam and Commissioner of Police S. George attended.
This article has been corrected for an editing error.
