Mysuru: The Passing Out Parade (Peel-off Parade) of the second batch of Women Police Constables, trained at the Police Training School (PTS) in city was held at DAR Parade Grounds, Jyotinagar here this morning.

Speaking after receiving the guard of honour on the occasion, Home Minister R. Ramalinga Reddy said that the Congress Government had recruited more than 30,000 Police personnel over the past five years, while the previous BJP Government had appointed only 12,000 personnel.

Explaining the measures taken and initiatives launched by the Home Department for strengthening the Police force, the Home Minister said that the Congress Government had raised women reservation in Police force from the existing 20 percent to 25.

Regretting that Women Police personnel accounted for only 13 percent of the total Police force in the State, Reddy called upon the women fraternity to join the force in large numbers, as it would significantly help in preventing crimes against women.

Recalling that the erstwhile Mysuru Maharajas set up the first PTS in the State in 1892, he said that the State now has 12 PTS and a Karnataka Police Academy (KPA).

Pointing out that the State Government has set aside Rs.50 crore for Police Department modernisation, he said that a cyber lab, a Police Martyr Memorial etc., will be set up.

Referring to NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) report where Karnataka stands at tenth position in crime rates, Reddy said that the State Government has launched various initiatives to bring down the crime rate to 3 percent from the present 5. He further said that works are being expedited on building 11,000 houses for Police personal in the State.

Former IPS Officer and Advisor to the Home Minister, Kempaiah, DGP (Training) Padam Kumar Garg, ADGP (Training) K.S.R. Charan Reddy, PTS Principal Dr. Dharanidevi Malagatti, KPA Director Vipul Kumar, City Police Commissioner Dr. A. Subrahmanyeswara Rao, SP Ravi D. Channannavar and others were present.

A total of 244 women Constables passed out in the second batch. It is significant to note that there were 25 Post Graduates and nearly 200 graduates in the batch who completed foundation training. It is also interesting to note that two Constables were BE(E&C) degree holders.

Prizes Distribution

In the indoor event, Bhavana S. Yenni of South-East division bagged the first place, while B.K. Sunitha of Central Division came second and N.M. Shyla of South-East Division third.

In the outdoor event, Bhavana C. Yenni of SE Division came first, while Vidyashri Mattikoppa of Whitefield Division came second and Nirmala of Central Division, third.

In the firing event, G.R. Lakshmibai of North-East Division came first, while Vanaja Sadananda Naik of Whitefield Division came second and Sridevi of NE Division third.

Bhavan S. Yenni of SE Division was declared as the Best All-Rounder. She also bagged the DGP Prize for best all round performance.