Potbellies of policemen in Jharkhand draw concern at training camp

RANCHI - Bulging bellies of policemen in Jharkhand have become a concern of the top brass here. The problem drew attention during an ongoing training camp for policemen in the capital city.

These police officials and other ranks’ bulging waistlines have also raised concern about their capability to handle anti-social elements.

The obesity problem drew authorities’ attention at a training camp organised for training with modern equipments like the AK-47s, Insas rifles, pistols and revolvers.

11 Deputy Superintendents of Police, 13 Inspectors, and 154 officers in charge, 279 Assistant Sub-Inspectors, 475 Constables and 2400 trainees participated are being given training here.

According to Santosh, the instructor of this camp, the ab-initio trainees outperformed the ranked officials at the shooting range and other exercises.

“The performance is definitely not praiseworthy but going by their age, it’s not such a bad job,” he said.

Many in the police ranks blamed the lack of training for their underperformance.

According to V K Singh, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), more such training sessions should be organised.

“Such training camps should be a regular affair. We had been out of practice, as such these training sessions help us in being in touch,” said V K Singh, ASI, Jharkhand Police.

Jharkhand being a Maoist sensitive State requires that the police officials should be fit enough in any challenging situation.

It may be noted that most of the police stations in Jharkhand are facing Maoist threat and in such a situation more and more police personnel must be well trained.

Ravinder Prasad, a Sergeant Major, is planning to organise a refresher course to get the police officials back in shape. He also said a proper fitness regime and diet will be designed for the police officials.

“After seeing the performances, we have decided to put the problem in front of senior Superintendent of Police. We are thinking of organising a refresher course so as to bring the police officials’ health in order,” said Ravinder Prasad.

Meanwhile, the training programme’s main objective was to provide adequate training to junior officers and trainees in the field of firing AK-47s, Insas Rifles, pistols and revolvers.

But now with the outcome, it seems the higher officials too need training sessions to get back in form. By Girija Shankar Ojha (ANI)