Home Minister K J George said the State government is likely to increase the age limit for the recruitment of police sub inspectors (SIs) soon.

Speaking to reporters during his visit to the Anti-Naxal Force camp at Agumbe in Tirthahalli taluk of the district on Tuesday, he said a decision on increasing the age limit for the posts of SIs will be taken in the next Cabinet meeting. The government has decided to recruit 760 SIs.

At present, 26 is the age limit for general category and 28 for SC/STs. The government is likely to increase the age limit by two years to ensure that unemployed persons get an opportunity to take part in the recruitment process. There was no recruitment of SIs for the past several years, he said.

Of the one lakh posts in the police department, 22,000 are lying vacant. The government has initiated the process of appointing 8,500 constables, the minister said.

Replying to a query on the attack on policemen in the Mangalore district prison recently, he said the government has ordered for an departmental inquiry into the incident.