BHOPAL: In what could be concern to many, around 5,700 constables deployed across Madhya Pradesh are untrained, lacking the skills and proficiency required for the job. Posted in police stations across the state as well as serving in battalions of the Special Armed Force (SAF), these recruits are discharging their duties without undergoing any training. In the queue are 489 sub inspectors who too were assigned duties without undergoing any police training.
AIG training Malay Jain informed that on April 5, passing out parade of newly-recruited constables was held in 10 Police Training Schools (PTS) in the state. A total of 6,283 newly recruited constables marched in the parade marking the completion of their training. However, almost an equal number of constables are yet to undergo training. Sources said the exact number of constables waiting to undergo training is 5,749, including 4,004 males and 1,745 females. Clearly, deputing untrained police personnel is hazardous, not only for them but also for the public at large.
In a recently held ‘darbar’, a few newly recruited women constables had urged the commandant to arrange for their training, but they in turn were told to wait for their turn. In the current year fresh 5000 recruitments will be conducted and they again will have to wait for a year or so to undergo training. The Professional Board of Examination is in the process to hold the exam. Facing shortage of personnel, the police department had to close down some of its security check. At the time when the government requires deployment of personnel for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, there are scores of recruits idling at police lines.
Since they have not received any training, the cops are engaged in work like digging pits, watering plants, maintaining houses of senior officials. Recently the government had withdrawn the security form RSS office ‘Samidha’ citing election deployment. However, facing flak over the decision not only from opposition but also from leader of own carder, the government had to restore the security cover.
Salary of constable, engaged as labour
The energy of untrained constables are being used in digging pits, watering plants, maintaining houses of senior officers as they lack basic training. The services of these constables are also being utilized for maintaining the district police lines, where these cops are stationed before the training. Sometimes, senior officers sent them in area to maintain law and order situation, however, sans proper training these cops serve no better than the ‘crowd’. They merely increase the number of men as they are sternly asked to not to use their canes in any condition and to just back the back main forces. However, there are instances when these untrained cops were first to cane-charge.