Tamil Nadu lacks 77,000 policemen to 'maintain law and order'

The opposition DMK took a shot at the ruling AIADMK faction, via actual vs recommended number of cops in the Tamil Nadu  As per the United Nations recommendation, there should be 1 police personnel for every 450 citizens. The ratio is 1 to 750 in TN The DMK asked the CM to recruit some 77,000 cops to make up the shortfall, though EPS did not seem pleased with the idea 

The law and order situation in Tamil Nadu has been of major concern lately, especially given the recent spate of protests and political uncertainty in the state. Sensing an opportunity to score a point, the opposition DMK questioned the state's Chief Minister E Palaniswami over the stark difference between the recommended numbers of police in the state versus the actual. 

Speaking in the Assembly, DMK MLA J Anbazhagan questioned, "There are 20,000 vacant posts in the Tamil Nadu police department. According to the official report, 1.23 lakh officials are working in the department. I would like to know specifically the number of police officials”.

CM Palaniswami answered vaguely, saying, “This count of 1.23 lakh would include officials, policemen and other employees”.

Not satisfied, Anbazhagan retorted, “Right now there are only 97,000 policemen in Tamil Nadu. It is at the ratio of 1 policeman for 770 people. But according to the recommendation of the UNO, the proportion should be 1 policeman for 450 people. Hence, in order to preserve law and order, the state needs 77,000 policemen in addition to the actual count”.

Perhaps taken aback by this demand that he recruit close to a lakh new cops, E Palaniswami shot back, “Even in your regime (the DMK rule) there was a scarcity of staff. Then why do you talk as if we are the only government to have scarcity?” 

However, it seems Anbazhagan had the last word in this battle with his reply,“The regime changed, along with a change in population and unemployment rates. Hence the government should make sure that they have enough policemen”