It may be notorious because of high crime rate but Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh is having a tryst with the modern concept of outsourcing, that too in maintenance of law and order.
Lok Sabha elections have created a piquant situation for Ghaziabad, with about 70 per cent of the police force being sent out of the district for duties related to May 5 polling.
Faced with acute shortage of policemen, the authorities here have virtually outsourced the law and order maintenance duties by hiring private security guards, home guards and fire fighters.
"Services of a large number of private security agencies, home guards and fire fighters have been hired to help meet the situation created by abrupt shortage," a senior district police official told PTI.
The regular police personnel will return after elections, helping bring back the situation to normal.
Interestingly, the crime graph in the district bordering Delhi has witnessed a downside since the general elections got underway, providing much relief to residents.