Delhi Police Personnel strength to be raised to 1 lakh in 2017: Union Home Minister

New Delhi: For the first time in the police history of India, the union government has promoted more than 25, 000 Delhi Police personnel.  The promoted police personnel are mostly of the ranks of head constables and constables.  In another first in police history, provisions have been made for out-of-turn promotions of women police personnel.  In addition, in the coming year, the Delhi Police is likely to have strength of around one lakh personnel. 

Expressing happiness at the promotion of more than 25, 000 Delhi Police personnel, Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh said, “It is the first time in the country that so many police personnel have been promoted. It is the first time I am experiencing such a large gathering and a mega show like this. I have also written to the Finance Ministry proposing to create 15,000 more vacancies in Delhi Police.”   The minister said that he was hopeful that in the coming year, the force will have around one lakh personnel.   

Addressing the Investiture Ceremony of Delhi Police here on Saturday, Rajnath Singh emphasized the need to make Delhi a safe place.  The Home Minister told the policemen that the voice and problem of the common man should be heard. He stressed that “no innocent should feel harassed and a criminal must be punished at any cost.” The Home Minister said that the force should not work under any pressure.  Referring to his recent visit to China, Rajnath Singh said that in Shanghai, he was informed of the installation of 80,000 CCTV cameras in the city and that the police reached the place of occurrence within minutes. The Minister hoped that the capital’s police should also function in this way and ensure that all efforts are made to achieve this.

Rajnath Singh added that he will have a meeting with police officials, as well as retired police officers to chalk out a plan on how to make the national Capital a safer place for the citizens. Ending his address on a lighter note, the Minister said, “All the wives and sisters of police personnel to enquire from their men about their day-to-day working and their productivity towards the society. The force should work with honesty and  policing requires interaction with the common man and hence they should be connected well with them.”

During the ceremony, 16 newly promoted inspectors (of 1997 Batch) reached the venue after completing 26 km run, which was started from Dwarka, as a thanks giving gesture to the Commissioner of Police. In the end, as a token of gratitude and appreciation to the Commissioner of Police, Alok Kumar Verma, promoted 20,000 officials held a plaque card which showing ‘Thanks’.   All these 20,000 ‘Thanks’ were handwritten by Limca award winning calligrapher SI Shyamalan.