Wanted: Police officers in Tumkur district

tumkur: skeletal and headless: that is how the district police office (dpo) here is functioning. three inspectors, the sanctioned strength, attached to the dpo have deserted it after a brief stint __ all in search of greener pastures. surprises are many in tumkur district: thirumani in pavagada taluk bordering andhra pradesh, is teeming with alleged naxal activity and is a strategic police station.but it has no inspector or sub-inspector manning it. pavagada police station limits, which has witnessed much naxal movement in the recent past, requires a crime sub-inspector. the posts of inspector and sub-inspector at koratagere police station are waiting for new incumbents. this station is said to be the largest in the district and the only police station for the entire taluk. sub-inspectors are also wanted at pattanayakanahally, new extension police station in tumkur, tiptur (both urban and rural stations), honnavalli, kunigal and hebbur. in all, the district has a shortage of 10 sub-inspectors out of 60 and five inspectors of 23, of which the dpo alone accounts for three. sources said there are 196 vacancies in the civil police. the fate of 152 candidates selected for the post of civil police constables last year is hanging fire, owing to orders from the karnataka administrative tribunal. the department has now invited applications for the remaining 44 civil police constable posts, for which it has received more than 2,000 applications, and for the 23 district armed reserve police, as many as 3,100 applicants have responded, sources said. besides these regular vacancies, there are no replacements for posts falling vacant due to promotions, transfers or retirement, and even long leave cases, of which there are a few.