LDF Govt. promises better deal for police force

Kochi, June 15 (UNI) Promising a better deal for the state police force, Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today said that the eight-hour duty will be reintroduced in the police stations at the earliest.

Addressing a public meeting here this evening as part of the valedictory functions of the three-day 23rd state conference of the Kerala Police Association (KPA), the Chief Minister said that the eight-hour duty would be reintroduced in 72 police stations in the state to begin with.

While the LDF government had introduced this in 1996, the UDF Government had subsequently abolished the system.

Talking of greater promotion avenues for the police personnel, Mr Achuthanandan said that it was a ''peculiar situation'' wherein police personnel even after putting in 28 years of service had not got a single promotion.

Priority would be given to making promotions to the head constable level at the earliest, he added.

At the same time, the Chief Minister exhorted the police personnel to desist from the use of third degree methods in the lock up.

Earlier, addressing the conference in the morning, State Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that the modernisation of the state police force will be given priority by the LDF Government.

Efforts will be made to computerise the police stations and have separate waiting areas for complainants. The police training modules and the Police Manual will be revised, he said.

Eds. pick up suitably from earlier series.

UNI ARC APA1943