Feuds between political workers keeping police busy: RR Patil

Political violence was putting more burden on the police machinery in Maharashtra, state Home Minister R R Patil said on Wednesday evening.

Thane: Political violence was putting more burden on the police machinery in Maharashtra, state Home Minister R R Patil said here on Wednesday evening.

Feuds and clashes between workers of political parties were becoming common of late, he observed. Police were overburdened, he said, adding that political parties should ensure that wranglings do not lead to law and order problems. Patil inaugurated the new administrative building of the Thane Police Commissioner`s office here. Festivals and birth anniversaries of national leaders should be celebrated in such a way that very little policing would be required, he said. Patil conceded that police in Thane district, with its burgeoning population, were understaffed. Eight more police station in Thane city limits and five in other parts of the district would be set up, he announced on this occasion. The state government had decided to recruit 61,000 police personnel in five stages, and the announcement of 18,000 posts will be made within the next eight to ten days, he said.