Chavan asks for central aid to modernise police

In view of the state's rapid urbanisation and the terror threats it faces, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan urged the Centre to provide financial support to the police modernisation programme over the next 10 years.

In view of the state's rapid urbanisation and the terror threats it faces, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan urged the Centre to provide financial support to the police modernisation programme over the next 10 years.

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Chavan was speaking at a conference on internal security in New Delhi on Tuesday. Prime minister Manmohan Singh chaired the conference. ‘We want the Centre’s financial support in getting modern weapons and equipment,” he said.

The chief minister talked about the security measures taken to counter terrorism. “We have added 14,395 police personnel and 1,109 officers in 2010. To counter naxal menace in Gadchiroli, we have 2,355 additional officers,” he said.

Chavan asked the Centre to appoint special officers in coastal regions.

He pointed out that lack of communication channels hampered coordination between various forces in Gadchiroli. “We need to have more BSNL mobile towers in the district so that security forces can communicate with district administration and their families.”

He said that the ‘Alpha Hawks Academy’ coming up in Nagpur, which would be operational by 2011-12, would train police in anti-Naxal operations and jungle warfare. He asked the Centre for Rs22 crore to complete the academy.

In addition to this, Chavan demanded finance for procuring mine protected vehicles. He asked for assistance in getting under barrel grenades and a helicopter for naxal-infested areas.