Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Sep 1: State home minister Dr V S Acharya has informed that a force named Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) is being raised in the state and that the first batch of trainees have already completed the combat training at Koppal recently. The cost of raising and maintaining the IRB is being borne jointly by the central and state government, he stated.

Each battalion of the force will have 1,500 policemen. The first batch of trainees comprised of 1,000 people, he revealed. The state plans to raise the battalion at two other places in the state he said, without revealing the names of these two places. The union government has already provided funds to the tune of Rs 10 crore for the purpose, he noted.

The Anti-Naxal Force and Anti-terrorist Cell will be strengthened further. The police force assigned with the task of coastal protection, is suffering from shortage of manpower. Steps are being taken to fill vacancies there, he explained.