After every terrorist attack such as the train bombings of last July, the state government scampers to upgrade its security preparedness.
Soon after the serial train bombings of July 11, 2006, which was followed by the blasts in the powerloom township of Malegaon, the state government woke up from its slumber.
Immediately after the serial train blasts, Home Minister RR Patil made an impromptu announcement to create a special cadre of intelligence officers within the State Intelligence Department. The aim was to boost up the intelligence gathering ability of the Maharashtra police and make the squad a permanent arrangement.
"The idea is to give stability to the special cadre staff so they can create their intelligence base," State Intelligence Department chief Anil Dhere told
HT
.
However, even after a year, the government is still to frame the recruitment rules and service rules for the special cadre intelligence officers. According to the proposal, as many as 450 senior intelligence officers and assistant intelligence officers were to be accommodated within the 900 personnel-strong intelligence department.
While the senior intelligence officers would be of the rank of assistant police inspectors, their assistants would be of the rank of head constables. The postings would be non-transferable (barring exceptional cases). The special cadre staff are to be distributed across the State Intelligence Department district units across the state.
While the senior intelligence officers would be of the rank of assistant police inspectors, their assistants would be of the rank of head constables. The postings would be non-transferable (barring exceptional cases). The special cadre staff are to be distributed across the State Intelligence Department district units across the state.
However, there are numerous hurdles — the first being the recruitment process. While half the staff are to be recruited through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), the rest would be selected directly by the State Intelligence Department commissioner.
The scam-hit MPSC, which is unable to conduct examination for 450 posts of police sub-inspectors lying vacant for four years, appears far from prepared to fill up another 450 posts. Worse, the state police administration is yet to fix the recruitment rules that could facilitate the selection by the MPSC. However, Dhere appears optimistic.
"The government has already issued the required orders for direct recruitment for 50 per cent posts. We are forming the recruitment rules and will send it to the MPSC by the month end," he said.