Nagpur: Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Ram Shinde on Monday said that the State Government is planning to equip those policemen who are carrying out their duties in Naxal-affected areas with high-quality, light weight polymer bulletproof jackets. “The conventional bulletproof jackets, at present the policemen are provided with, weigh in seven kilogrammes and sometimes prove hurdles during operation in interior terrains and Naxal-infested areas. Keeping the fact in mind, the State Government is planning to provide the policemen with high-quality, light weight polymer bulletproof jackets,” said the Minister.
Shine was talking to media after paying a goodwill visit to families of martyred police jawans Doge Atram and Swarup Amrutkar in Gadchiroli District. The press conference, held at office of Superintendent of Police, was attended by MLAs Dr Devrao Holi, Krushna Gajbe, District Collector Ranjit Kumar, DIG Ravindra Kadam, Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil, Additional Superintendents of Police Rahul Shriram and Rajkumar Shinde.
The Minister of State for Home Ram Shinde consoled wife of martyr Doge Atram and mother of martyr Swarup Amrutkar and said that the State Government is with them in their moments of sadness. “Government is making all efforts and ensuring the necessary facilities to policemen on duty. The jawans deployed in the C-60 Force, established 25 years ago, are local and they are performing their duties in the tradition of excellence,” asserted Shinde in appreciation.
Mother of martyred jawan Swarup Amrutkar submitted a memorandum of demands that included a sophisticated helicopter, bravery medals, high-quality bulletproof jackets, medically knowledgeable jawans with C-60 Force teams, etc. The Minister said that a proposal on conferring the martyred jawans Doge Atram and Swarup Amrutkar with bravery medals has already been sent Central Giovernment. Similarly, the District Collector has sent a proposal to State Government for providing houses to surrendered Naxals. He will pursue the matter further as a Minister of State for Home, said Shinde. “The State Government has prepared a Rs 500 crore scheme to provide Hudco houses to policemen. A provision of Rs 300 crore has been made in the Budget. The Gadchiroli district will be given priority under this scheme,” said Shinde.
