No plan to arm SPOs in Bihar: DGP

Though the Special Police Officers (SPOs) in Bihar are proving fruitful in operations against organised gangs and banned ultra-left outfits, there is no plan to arm them, Director General of Police Neelmani said on Saturday.

Though the Special Police Officers (SPOs) in Bihar are proving fruitful in operations against organised gangs and banned ultra-left outfits, there is no plan to arm them, DGP Neelmani said on Saturday.

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Talking to PTI, Neelmani said the SPOs are being appointed under the Security Related Expenditure Plan launched by the Union home ministry and "we have around 6000 SPOs available in Bihar at present."

The practice of appointing the SPOs began in 2009 and their help was being taken in the interior villages as they know the topography and are present in almost every district in Bihar, IGP (Operation) K S Dwivedi said.

Their appointment was also made in the case of Maoist-affected areas, Dwivedi said.

"We have no plan to provide arms from police armoury and also no uniform to the SPOs in Bihar," Neelmani said.

Referring to the mandate given to these Special Police officers, Dwivedi said the SPOs who are paid Rs 3000 per month did not have any specific power.

They are a temporary appointee and rarely has any educational qualification, Dwivedi said adding the appointment had really helped in fighting the problem they have been appointed for.