PANJIM: Most police stations across the State are facing a major problem in handling law and order situation as almost 60% of the staff has been deployed for election duty based on instructions from the Chief Electoral Officer.
Five companies of central paramilitary forces will be reaching Goa on January 17, which may help Goa Police in routine and guard duties where most of the staff is required.
In view of visits of central ministers, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the police are slightly helpless to manage the law and order and security of VIPs.
North Goa Superintendent of Police Karthik Kashyap said police are mobilising all available resources with them, including IRB platoons. Police are also doing more duty hours to cope with the shortage, he added.
“Only one third of the staff is available with police stations for duty, including law and order. It becomes very difficult in this situation at election time to manage the police stations with a handful of staff,” an Inspector from South Goa told Herald.
Another Inspector from North Goa raised the issue where a series of political public meetings are scheduled in the coming days and the number of complaints which have to be dealt with the available staff.
Meanwhile, CEO Kunal said there won’t be any issue of staff shortage. “All the teams and police are already in place under the Election Commission. Every step has been initiated to control law and order, quick reaction teams along with flying squads are on the move all over the State,” Kunal said.
He added that the commission’s mandate to control money and muscle power for free and fair elections is under control.
