The Press Trust of India quoting figures compiled by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reported that as many as 1,15,000 posts were lying vacant in state police forces across the country. Terrorism and left-wing extremism affected states such as Gujarat, Karnataka, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Bihar had vacant posts ranging from 4,400 to 13,000 in the grade of constables, sub-inspectors (SIs) and deputy superintendents of police (DSP). On an average, 24.15 per cent DSP posts, 20.76 per cent SI posts and 10.87 per cent posts of constables were lying vacant across the country.

The MHA noted that Gujarat, which witnessed a series of bomb blasts recently, had a total sanctioned strength of 43,554 police personnel, out of which, 8,549 posts, including 7,418 posts of constables, were lying vacant. Karnataka, another state which witnessed terror attacks recently, out of a sanctioned strength of 59,442 personnel, 9,429 posts, including of 8,235 constables and 72 DSPs, were vacant1.

• 1. “115000 posts lying vacant in State Police forces, says Union Home Ministry,” South Asia Terrorism Portal, October 20, 2008, at http://satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news.asp?date1=10/20/2008#14