In a major respite for "stressed out" policemen, the state government announced to sanction one-day off to policemen, who were on duty for 10 consecutive days. The decision was taken by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on occasion of Shree Krishna Janmastmi on Thursday.
Sources said that the government is planning to give some relief to cops who were already burdened with over work and could not find time to even fulfill their family responsibilities. Only earlier this week, not sanctioning of leave to a constable in Bulundhshahr forced him to open fire burst on fellow colleagues killing two of them and critically injuring one another. later the cops also killed himself and committed suicide.
"Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav decided to give one day off to policemen performing 10 days of duty," an official release issued here on Thursday confirmed. Earlier, policemen in Uttar Pradesh had no weekly or fixed offs. They had to apply for leaves that were subject to approval by higher authorities, police officials said.
The decision was taken as long duties without offs was causing stress among police personnel and they also could not perform family, social and personal duties, the release added. Sources said that if the officials faced no shortage of man power in maintaining law and order due to leave by the cops after above order, the government would extend it further and make it to weekly off.