Against the demand of 380 additional policemen for the Gondia district, which borders on the Naxal-affected Gadchiroli, the Maharashtra government has sanctioned only 23 new posts.
The government is set to recruit 76 police personnel for the district next month as a part of a state-wide drive. However, 53 of these new recruits would be filling the existing vacancies created by the retirements.
Sources in the local police said the District Superintendent of Police Dr Dilip Zalke had sent a proposal for creation of 380 new posts, but the state Home Ministry sanctioned only 23.
The district police are facing a severe staff crunch, sources added.
The posts of Additional Superintendent of Police and the Deputy Superintendent of Police too are lying vacant for the past many months.
In the neighbouring Gadchiroli, where seven policemen were killed in a landmine blast carried out by the Naxals yesterday, around 1,600 new policemen would be recruited, sources pointed out.
