Telangana to fill all police vacancies by 2028, recruit 5,000 more personnel: CM Revanth Reddy

Telangana government will fill all existing vacancies in the Police Department by 2028, with steps already initiated to recruit another 5,000 personnel, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced on Wednesday while reiterating the government’s commitment to strengthening policing and improving the welfare of personnel and their families.

Addressing the Police Commemoration Day parade, also observed as Police Martyrs’ Day, at the Police Martyrs’ Memorial in Goshamahal Police Stadium, Hyderabad, the Chief Minister said maintaining law and order is essential for the State’s development and that the government has accorded the highest priority to the Police Department.

He said the government had already appointed 112 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), describing the recruitment as unprecedented, and initiated steps to fill another 5,000 vacancies.

Paying tributes to police personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty, Mr. Reddy said 154 police personnel had died across the country during the year. He remembered Telangana Assistant Sub-Inspector D. Devi Singh, constables Empalli Pramod Kumar and Seelam Kamalakar, and Gajula Soumya of the Excise Department, who lost their lives while on duty.

Assuring the families of the deceased personnel of continued government support, he announced that the ex-gratia for Home Guards who die in the line of duty would be increased from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh and directed Director General of Police C.V. Anand to take the necessary steps.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the enhanced compensation for police personnel who die during duty. The ex-gratia for constables has been increased from ₹40 lakh to ₹1 crore, while that for Head Constables and ASIs has been raised from ₹45 lakh to ₹1 crore.

For Sub-Inspectors, the compensation has been increased from ₹45 lakh to ₹1.25 crore, and for Inspectors, from ₹50 lakh to ₹1.25 crore. Families of DSPs and Additional SPs would receive ₹1.50 crore, compared with the earlier ₹50 lakh, while the compensation for SPs and IPS officers has been doubled from ₹1 crore to ₹2 crore.

Modern policing must retain humane approach

Highlighting the changing nature of crime, Mr. Reddy said the government was working towards modernising the Police Department and equipping personnel with advanced technology to tackle emerging challenges. However, he cautioned that technological advancement should not come at the cost of the humane approach expected of police officers.

Mr. Reddy also highlighted the appointment of transgender persons as traffic assistants, stating that the initiative had helped strengthen their dignity and self-respect. He said ensuring women’s safety was not the responsibility of the police alone and called upon society to play an active role in preventing crimes against women.

DGP flags cybercrime, drugs and organised crime as emerging challenges

Speaking at the programme, Mr.Anand said the sacrifices of police personnel who fought terrorism, Naxalism, Maoism and other threats had contributed significantly to maintaining peace and enabling development in Telangana.

He said the police must now prepare themselves for emerging challenges such as cybercrime, narcotics trafficking, food adulteration, road accidents and organised crime.

He added that police personnel must continuously upgrade their skills to respond to criminals increasingly using sophisticated methods and technology, while maintaining a strong presence on the ground.