Gaya: More than 40% of the sanctioned posts of police personnel of various ranks, including constables, head constables, assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs) and sub-inspectors (SIs), are lying vacant in the five districts of the Magadh police range, according to official figures. Against a total sanctioned strength of nearly 21,000 police personnel, including IPS officers and DSPs, more than 8,500 posts are vacant.The shortage is most acute in Aurangabad and Arwal districts. In both districts, nearly 46% of the sanctioned posts are vacant. In Aurangabad, against 5,610 sanctioned posts, the working strength is 3,026. In Arwal, against a sanctioned strength of 1,981, only 926 personnel are posted, the figures show.Gaya district, in comparison, is better placed. The vacancy rate stands at about 36%. Against a sanctioned strength of 7,246 police personnel, 4,535 are currently serving in the district. The vacancy position in Jehanabad is almost similar, with 37% of the sanctioned posts lying vacant. Jehanabad has a total sanctioned strength of 2,311 personnel.Nearly 43% of the sanctioned posts are vacant in Nawada. Against a sanctioned strength of 3,787, as many as 1,638 posts remain unfilled in the district.Amid the personnel shortage, there are some categories where the number of officers posted exceeds the sanctioned strength. In Gaya, the sanctioned strength of police inspectors is 61, but 64 inspectors are currently serving in the district, three more than the approved number. All 14 DSP-rank posts in the district are filled.The shortage of police personnel in the Magadh range is a matter of serious concern, said M A Kazmi, a retired IG-rank officer residing in Gaya. Kazmi, who had earlier served as the SP of Aurangabad, said the Magadh range has traditionally been one of the state’s most challenging policing regions.Asked about the shortage of personnel in the Magadh range, IG Vikas Vaibhav said he would look into the matter. “The shortage of personnel can, to a considerable extent, be addressed through proper manpower management, and this figures among my priorities,” Vaibhav said.
