SOG formed to tackle emergencies in State's airports: Paikra

The demands for grant of Home, Jail and Home Guard and PHE Departments worth Rs 5207.71 crore  were passed in the legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

Home, Jail , Home Guards and PHED Minister Ramsevak Paikra said during the discussion on grant demands of Home Department worth Rs 4354 .72 crore that better law and order in state has contributed to the better development of the state.

Especially in Maoist affected areas, it is difficult to get the development works done without security. State Government is determined to maintain better law and order in state, he said.

Paikra said that the Home Department has prepared a strong foundation of Police Department to combat various challenges. Police personnel are courageously braving Maoism in internal areas.

Many police personnel have sacrificed their lives to maintain peace in state, but this sacrifice will never go in vain, he said.

In year 2003, 26 ,278 posts in Police Department were approved. State Government has approved total of 49 175 new posts in last 14 years, Paikra said.

Presently, Police Department has total sanctioned force of 75,453 and in year 2018-19, 1333 new posts have been approved, the Minister said.

He said that 300 police stations and 66 chowkis were approved in state in year 2003. In last 14 years, government has made total 153 new police stations and 47 chowkis in state for controlling crimes.

In this way, the state presently has 453 police stations and 113 chowkis. In the upcoming fiscal year 2018-19, opening of three new police stations and six new chowkis have been provisioned, Paikra said.

He said that cases of certain finance companies luring and duping innocent citizens with false promises of high profit have been reported from several parts of the state and the country as well. Effective action has been taken against such companies.

The Government has decided to constitute one cell in each range and one cell in Police Headquarters to take action against irregularities of such companies. Women Desk has been established in police stations of the state, particularly in Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg and Sarguja to control crime against women. To prevent road accidents in state state, citizens are being made aware of the traffic rules, he said.

last year, Chief Minister gave green signal to highway patrolling on Rajnandgaon, Durg, Raipur, Mahasamund National Highway. Decision to expand this further in next fiscal year has been taken, Paikra said.

A Special Operation Group has been constituted under the leadership of Deputy Superintendent of Police to tackle with the emergency situations at airports of the state. This group is competent and authorized to deal with any emergency situation arising at airport, in coordination with National Group.

He further said that in the previous year, CCTV cameras were installed in 200 police stations of the state, which has brought more transparency in works. In the second phase, remaining 232 police stations will be equipped with CCTV cameras, for which Rs 2.32 crore have been provisioned in the budget of year 2018-19.

To further strengthen the security system in state, provisions have been made in the upcoming budget for procurement of new equipment. Purchase of new security equipment will strengthen the information system and make it easier to keep vigilance. Command and Control System has been established in Naya Raipur for implementation of Dial 112, he said.

Paikra informed that Police is committed to find the missing children. Police Department launched many special campaigns such as Muskaan and Talash in  year 2017-18 and had found many children, who were missing.

The Home Minister said that 244 constables have been recruited in Chhattisgarh Armed Forces for the first time in state, who will contribute in fight against Maoists, and play important role in maintaining law and order. Police Housing Corporation has accelerated the progress of construction works of police stations, chowkis also administrative and residential.

Paikra said that Maoists are being cornered and confined, as a result of anti-Naxal operation being jointly conducted by 45 battalions of Central Security Forces and State Force. In year 2017, 77 maoists were killed in 197 police-Naxal encounters, and 1026 were arrested. In these encounters, many automatic weapons along with 222 other arms seized, he said.

A total of 366 Maoists have surrendered, and taken shelter under State Government's rehabilitation scheme. 61 police personnel were martyred in the fight against Maoists, Paikra said.