The police department should frame a transfer policy in which every personnel is posted in mountainous areas on a rotational basis, quipped the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Harish Rawat, while addressing a programme organised to mark the inauguration of indoor police shooting range and felicitation ceremony at Police lines here on Sunday.
The CM reasoned that postings in mountainous terrain would improve the fitness level of the force. “We can convert the so called geographical disadvantage into advantage by doing this. I used to walk up to 25 km a day when my political base was in hills and my fitness level was fantastic”, said the CM.
Congratulating the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) for doing a laudable job, Rawat said that it should develop itself as a holistic unit striving for excellence in disaster management, rescue operation and sports.
Appreciating the sportspersons of State police for winning six gold medals at the recent Fairfax police games held at Virginia, USA, he exhorted the policemen to ensure that the tally is doubled in next event.
The CM announced that `1 crore would be provided to the State police for purchasing modern equipment for the Indoor shooting range.
He said that the new range would help in improving the skills of the police force and hoped that new shooting champions from the force would emerge with best facilities at their disposal now. The indoor shooting range is set up with a budget of `3 Crore.
Addressing the gathering the State home minister Pritam Singh said that new shooting range would benefit the policemen. He said that the expectations of common people from the police are very high and they should always try to raise themselves to the high level of excellence despite all odds.
The Inspector General (IG) of Garhwal range Sanjay Gunjyal presented a presentation on the mount Bhagirathi II mountaineering expedition of state police which was headed by him.
The Chief Minister flagged off a special unit, ‘High altitude search and rescue team’ specialized to work in high Himalayas on the occasion. Similarly he flagged in the 25 member team police team which successfully climbed 21365 ft Mount Bhagirathi.
The CM felicitated Head Constable (HC) Kamla Bisht, HC Mukesh Pal, Constable Mukesh Rawat, Constable Amit Chettri and Constable Manish Rawat for winning medals in the police games at Virginia USA. It is worth mentioning here that Constable Mukesh Kumar got four gold medals (one each in 1500 mt, 3000 mt steeplechase, 5000 mt and 10000 mt) while Constable Chettri and Constable Kamla Bisht secured one gold medal each at international police games in Body building and boxing respectively.
The DG of State police B S Sidhu presented the vote of thanks on the occasion. The programe was attended by home secretary Vinod Sharma, ADG law and order A K Raturi and other senior police officers.