Bengaluru, DHNS: As a New Year gift, the state government has decided to promote 11,000 police personnel.

At a review meeting held on Wednesday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said this is the first time such a huge number of police personnel are being promoted.

“Police constables will be promoted as head constables (HC). Head constables, in turn, will be promoted as assistant sub-inspectors (ASI). ASIs will be promoted as sub-inspectors,” he said.

“Policemen work hard to maintain law and order and to keep a check on crime. Hence, we will have to reward them appropriately. Measures are also being taken to fill vacancies. We have already recruited 26,702 police constables and other staff and approved various allowances,” he added.

In 2014-15, around 1,445 posts were sanctioned for 31 new police stations. In 2015-16, as many as 1,356 posts were filled in 30 new police stations. In 2016-17, another 220 posts were created in five new women police stations, said a senior police officer present at the meeting.

During the meeting, it was announced that Hoskote in Bengaluru rural, Ramadurga and Athani in Belagavi and Shorapur in Kalaburagi districts have been made new sub-divisions.

A new commissionerate will also be established in Ballari, keeping in mind the rise in law and order problems and criminal activities in connection with the mining mafia.

A KSRP training school at Kangrali will be set up and 76 posts will be approved. Around 468 posts have been created in six training schools, 322 in the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), 309 in the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), 45 posts for six new police outposts and 1,557 posts for Bengaluru Traffic police department.

‘Deal with iron hand’

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah directed senior police officers to deal with their subordinates involved in illegal activities with an iron hand.

Siddaramaiah told the brass not to protect corrupt police officials.

“In recent times, we have information that police personnel are involved in land disputes and real estate deals. It is also known that they are helping businessman and blackmoney hoarders to convert cash to white. This cannot be tolerated in a department known for discipline,” he said.

He added that retaining such personnel in the force is a shame. “They should be removed. Since several illegal activities involving the police are coming to light, people are losing faith in the department. Senior police officers should take strict action against such elements,” added Siddaramaiah

He also wondered how people can have faith in the police when innocent people are not getting justice and anti-social elements are protected.