CM miffed with Centre on failure to fill top Goa police posts

The Goa government has criticised the Centre for turning a deaf ear to its repeated requests on filling top posts in the state police force.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, in a letter addressed to Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde dated November 8, pointed out that the Union Ministry is averse to fill senior positions that have been lying vacant.

The Chief Minister said that the Centre has refused to entertain the state administration's request to transfer Director General of Police, Kishen Kumar who is currently facing health issues and has to frequent Delhi for treatment.

"Goa is an international tourist destination and presence of large number of tourists makes it a soft target for terrorists and anti-national elements.

The recent revelations of central agencies that one of the terror mastermind Yasin Bhatkal stayed in Goa for some time without being detected is a case in point. Goa being a coastal state, makes it more vulnerable from security point of view," the Chief Minister said in the three page letter, a copy of which is available with PTI.

Goa government is concerned about the lack of senior police officers in the force as the state is hosting International Film Festival of India (IFFI) annually.

Similarly, Portuguese Commonwealth Games would also be held in the state in January, next year, he said.

Parrikar pointed out that DGP Kishen Kumar on account of his health problems is constantly required to go to Delhi for treatment, and therefore not able to fully devote himself to work.

"The state government's request for his transfer and posting of a substitute communicated by Chief Secretary on August 5, 2013 has not met with any success," Parrikar said.

He also pointed out that a post of Inspector General of Police and two posts of Deputy Inspector General of Police are lying vacant.

"Therefore there is absolute vacuum at the top and middle rank of the police machinery leaving the force without experienced and senior leadership," the letter said.

"Out of the six Superintendent of Police rank officers, three have been sent to Goa consequent to their induction to IPS and two have just been posted on inter-cadre transfer to AGMUT cadre.

All these officials are relatively junior in police hierarchy," the letter added.