A Right to Information Act query has found that 21 per cent of female posts in the Maharashtra police force are lying vacant and if experts are to be believed, this shortfall could take another 20 years to fill.
As of December 31, 2012, only 8.54 per cent policewomen were working in the sanctioned strength of the state police, which is 2,07,884. As per norms, there should be 30 per cent women in the fleet.
The RTI query, which was filed by Chetan Kothari, has revealed that currently, female officers stands at 17,665, against 68,000 approximately as on December 2012. A total of 1,246 female cops are currently serving in posts from sub-inspectors to DGP. This includes one DGP and ADGP, three IGs, 217 API and 872 SI. However, a total of 16,419 women are serving in the assistant sub-inspectors to constable rank.
Ex-IPS officer and social activist Y.P, Singh observed, “This backlog is due to an earlier faulty process of recruitment. However, since the last 7-8 years, recruitment in the state is being done in accordance with the 30 per cent women force norm.”
Speaking about special drives to recruit women police officers, Mr Singh said, “If we conduct a special drive, then the current ratio of male applicants will become awkward. However, this will bring about a correction at the junior level.”
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2 rajan gang men held for extortion
AGE CORRESPONDENT
Mumbai, Jan. 18
The Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested two aides of gangster Chhota Rajan for allegedly extorting `50 lakh from a well-known Navi Mumbai based builder. The arrested accused have been identified as Rajesh Ramchandra Raparti (39) and Sunil Ratan Utekar (32).
According to the crime branch, the complainant has a project at Pant Nagar, Ghatkopar. On January 15, when he was heading to the project site, he received a phone call from an unknown number. The caller who identified himself as gangster Chhota Rajan’s man Vijay, threatened him with dire sequences if he did not pay `50 lakh. The caller gave the uilder two international numbers and threatened him that he would not be able to complete his projects if he didn’t give in to his demands.
The builder then approached the Pant Nagar police station and lodged a complaint on the same day. Unit-7 of crime branch initiated a parallel investigation into the matter.
“Utekar had previously worked with the complainant as a
labourer and machinery supplier for seven months. During that period he learnt about the builder’s wealth. He then, with his friend Raparti, hatched a plan to extort money from him,” said
investigation officer API Anil Dhole of the unit-7.