By IANS,
Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Tuesday lavished praise on the state police for gunning down wanted criminals like the bandits Dadua and Thokiya and assured the families of killed policemen that her government would do everything to help them.
Addressing police personnel in the Reserve Police Lines on the occasion of Police Commemoration Day, she said: “Of the 683 cops who laid down their lives serving the country last year, 93 were from our state, and we are proud that their priority was their duty. The state government and the police department assures their family members of all possible assistance they would ask for.”
Earlier in the morning, the chief minister took the guard of honour and paid homage to the slain policemen.
“Our state police has achieved many landmarks in the past year. Besides gunning down dreaded bandits like Dadua and Thokiya, our cops have gunned down 150 criminals of Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states. They have also successfully worked out the serial blasts in the three district courts last year, besides assisting police of other states in solving the recent serial blasts,” Mayawati said.
She also announced some financial benefits for the police department.
“We announce an increase of Rs.50 per month in the nutritive diet allowance of the state police. Besides, the monthly salary of sanitation employees has been increased from Rs.250 to Rs.600.” she said.
The state government has sanctioned nearly Rs.1 billion (100 crore) in the past for various welfare and modernisation programmes of the department, she added.
Mayawati met widows and family members of the slain cops who were present at the function and distributed gifts. She also heard their complaints and assured speedy redressal.
“I will issue instructions that they (family members, widows) are taken care of properly and provided all help,” she assured.
State police chief Vikram Singh assured the chief minister that the force would make all efforts to make itself the best in the county.
“Our state force is the largest in the country and we assure the people of the state of a fearless environment. We will keep extending our support to other states as well to fight crime and terror,” Singh said.