In the Himachal Pradesh budget 2013-2014 speech, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh praised the role of police department for maintaining the law & order in the state. He lauded the free SMS service for complaint. He said that the free SMS ‘Number 9459100100’ service has been widely appreciated by the people especially the women. Till date 5273 complaints have been received through SMS.
In addition to above, online complaints on the Police Website are also being made by the women and action is being initiated within 48 hours. In the budget Chief Minister proposed to a budget outlay of ` 723 crore for police and allied organizations in 2013-14.
He also proposed to amplify the role of women in the police department and announced to increase the women police personal to 20 percent in police force at constable and Sub Inspector level. At present women constitute nearly 10% of police force.
However, Virbhadra Singh questioned the role of Police department during the tenure of the previous Government and accused them for converted into ‘Gestapo’. He blamed that some of the Police personnel were involved in unauthorized phone tapping and making fabricated cases.
He claimed that he himself was a victim of one such fabricated case. CM ensured that the police again become a true professional force, serving the people of the State without any fear or favour.
