Kalahandi: A sharp disparity in police deployment has emerged in Kalahandi district, with 68 sanctioned posts lying vacant, mainly at police stations in remote and tribal-dominated areas, while several urban stations have personnel above their sanctioned strength, according to data obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The shortage is particularly acute at stations in Lanjigad, Bijepur, Biswanathpur, Madanpur Rampur (M Rampur), Karlapat and Thuamul Rampur (T Rampur), where vacancies among officers and constables have persisted for years. The situation has raised concerns over the police department’s ability to maintain law and order, ensure public safety and respond promptly to emergencies in difficult-to-reach areas.
According to information obtained from the Kalahandi district police headquarters, the district has 20 police stations. As of mid-August, 14 posts of sub-inspector (SI), 28 assistant sub-inspector (ASI) posts and 26 constable posts were vacant. The vacancies also include one deputy superintendent of police (DSP), one senior clerk and one junior stenographer. The RTI data highlights the disparity in deployment. At Lanjigad police station, only one SI is posted against a sanctioned strength of eight, leaving seven posts vacant. Of the seven sanctioned ASI posts, four are filled, and three are vacant. Seven constable posts are also vacant. Similarly, Bijepur police station has three vacant SI posts and 11 vacant constable posts, while Biswanathpur has three vacant SI posts and four vacant constable posts. Thuamul Rampur has two vacant ASI posts and five vacant constable posts. M Rampur has one vacant SI post and four vacant ASI posts.
In contrast, several urban stations have personnel above their sanctioned strength. Bhabanipatana Town police station has four SIs against two sanctioned posts and 15 constables against nine. Bhabanipatana Sadar has 13 constables against a sanctioned strength of seven. Junagad police station has four SIs against two sanctioned posts and eight constables against five. Dharmagada has three SIs against one sanctioned post, five ASIs against four and nine constables against six. Kesinga has four SIs against two sanctioned posts and 12 constables against eight. Reports have also alleged that some officers are reluctant to serve in remote postings and use medical leave or political influence to avoid joining their transferred places of posting.
The allegations could not be independently verified. Kalahandi Superintendent of Police Nagaraj Devarakonda said nearly 50 per cent of the district’s sanctioned police posts are vacant. “We are managing the available manpower according to the requirements of each area,” he said.
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