Wednesday, November 30 2005 14:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Expressing confidence over the Centre extending 'all-possible' help to Bihar to effectively control crime and naxalite activities, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today (nov 30, 2005) announced raising of two additional battalions of the Bihar Military Police (BMP) and filling of around 10,000 vacancies in the police force.

"I had telephonic talks with Union Home minister Shivraj Patil yesterday during which I sought additional companies of para-military forces to further intensify the combing operations against the naxalites and also to assist the police to have effective control over other criminal activities", Kumar told reporters.

Kumar said during his talks, Patil assured that the Centre would extend all-possible help to the state to improve the law and order situation.

Without specifying the strength of central para-military personnel required for anti-naxalite operation as also to check other crimes, Chief Minister said the state police had made demands for deployment of CMPFs in both the naxal-hit and crime-infested areas.

Kumar said a team of state officials, including Home secretary H C Sirohi and Director General of Police Ashish Ranjan Sinha would go to New Delhi on December two to attend a meeting with the Union Home secretary called at the instance of Patil.

Chief Minister said he had asked the state Home secretary and DGP to chalk out an action plan for crime control and place the department's requirements before the Centre during the meeting.

He announced that apart from raising two additional battalions of the Bihar Military Police, around 10,000 vacancies of police force would soon be filled adopting 'a thoroughly transparent recruitment process'.

"Video-recordings of the entire recruitment process will be done at all the stages before final selection of aspirants for police job", he said.