“At present, the shortage of staff has resulted in the police personnel working under tremendous pressure. More police personnel should be recruited to fill the lacuna. Vacant posts are posing great problems,” Rao said after receiving the guard of honour at his farewell function at the KSRP Parade Ground here on Thursday.
The outgoing chief of the police force said that the government needed to recruit policemen in adequate numbers as population of big cities had been soaring every year. Sufficient number of policemen were required to curb anti-social and criminal activities, he said.
Presently, the police personnel were working in two shifts of 12 hours each.
“The system should be changed to three shifts of eight hours each to ease the pressure,” Rao said.
Rao expressed happiness that the police force was well-equipped and well-resourced compared to a few decades ago. “Still, the force needs to be provided with more facilities and resources,” he said and hoped that his successor, Shankar Bidari, who has served in various wings of the police force, would take steps to solve the problems. Rao said that he was satisfied with his career that spanned 35 years.
“I could succeed only because my seniors guided me well and the juniors supported and co-operated with me,” he added. Senior officers including Bangalore City Police Commissioner B G Jyothiprakash Mirji were present on the occasion.
Infant upset
Meanwhile, the senior-most IPS officer and DPG (Home Guards & Fire and Emergency Services), A R Infant who was overlooked for the top post, has contested Bidari’s appointment and said he would challenge it legally. Bidari belongs to the 1978 batch.
Infant who belongs to the 1977 batch of the IPS officers said that his senior-most position and an unblemished and meritorious service record were given no consideration while the appointment was made.
“No judicial inquiry commission or any other committee has ever indicted me. Still, I was overlooked,” Infant told Deccan Herald. He said that he would consult his lawyers to challenge what he termed an “unjust appointment”. When asked if he saw any conspiracy behind the decision, Infant said: “I don’t know.”
He described as “unfortunate” the treatment meted out to him twice — firstly when he was overlooked for the post of the Bangalore City Commissioner of Police, and secondly for the DG&IGP’s post.
Infant, due to retire on May 23, 2012, refused to set a timeframe for the legal recourse he intends to seek.