Jharkhand Govt. Vows Support for Agitating Police Assistants

The Jharkhand government has appealed to protesting contractual police assistants to end their agitation, offering a one-year extension of services, age relaxations, and a 25% honorarium increase. The assistants are demanding direct recruitment into the police department. Officials have promised fair opportunities for them in upcoming police recruitments.

The Jharkhand government on Friday urged protesting contractual police assistants to cease their agitation, promising a one-year extension of their services. The police assistants are demanding direct recruitment into the police force and a higher honorarium.

Additional Director General Raj Kumar Mallick announced that the assistants would receive age relaxations and other concessions when applying for constable positions in various police departments, including excise, home guard, jail sipahi, and fire services. The protesting special police officers (SPOs) are currently demonstrating near the Chief Minister’s residence.

Ranchi SSP Chandan Kumar Sinha and other senior officials are on-site, attempting to persuade the demonstrators to end their protest. Eyewitnesses reported that police used mild lathi-charge to control the situation, although no injuries were reported.

Earlier, Principal Secretary (Home) Vandana Dadel and DGP Ajay Kumar Singh held discussions with a delegation of the protesters, requesting them to cease their agitation. Mallick reiterated that while direct induction into the police force is not feasible, the SPOs would receive age relaxations and be eligible for the upcoming recruitment of 6,500 police posts. Additionally, their tenure will be extended if the protest ends immediately.

Mallick reassured that a 25% honorarium increase would be considered based on disciplined conduct and a prompt return to duties.