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Policing in the islands began with effect from 22.11.58 by the
establishment of the first Police stations at Minicoy.
The staff posted therein consisted of a strength of one S.I., 2 HCs
and 5 Constables who were deputationists and ex-servicemen from mainland.
The second Police station came into being at Androth during the
same year.
Police stations in other inhabited islands were established in
1960’s .
The outpost at
Bitra
under Chetlath Police Station and the aid post at Bangaram under
Agatti Police Station respectively started functioning during the year
1991(Details shown in APPENDIX
I ) CrPC and IPC were extended to this Union Territory with effect
from 1.11.67.
From 1956 till
1.11.1967,
the local Amins were functioning at 3rd
Class Magistrates and discharging Police duties in their respective
islands. Other
Acts were extended subsequently.
Administrator is the ex-officio IGP .
An Officer of the rank of Dy.S.P. was the executive head of the
force from 1964 to 1974 assisted by one Inspector at Minicoy .
His HQ was later shifted to Kavaratti.
The present set up is based on the report on “Reorganisation of
Police in the LMA group of islands” prepared by Sri Kripal Singh IPS DIG
Delhi Administration during
the year 1969. Shri
P.V.Sinari, the first IPS Officer joined the force on 16.1.74.
The first batch of constables
recruited on 13.7.64 were posted in the islands after basic
training in January 1965. The
first batch of direct entry Sub Inspectors recruited in 1971 joined the
force in October 1972. The deputation system was discontinued since 1978 and the vacant posts were filled up with qualified
officers from the force. (The strength of the force is shown as APPENDIX
II ) of these, a strength of one HC and 16 Police Constables are women.
During April 2003, 26 Police constables were recruited and they are
being sent for the basic training in October.
The Police force consists of personnel from Kerala and the islands.
Lakshadweep Police Wireless was established in 1980 and is functioning under the Inspector (Communication). Officers of the rank of Assistant Sub Inspector (Wireless Operator) are managing the wireless station in the islands. The islands are connected with High Frequency interfaced with BEST equipments, VHF and UHF. We are awaiting introduction of POLNET system in the islands through which the connectivity with the rest of the country can be a reality. Distribution of wireless staff and network is shown in APPENDIX III
A special
Branch unit is functioning at H.Q. Kavaratti headed by an Inspector of
Police and under the direct control of the Superintendent of Police.
Similar units are functioning at Kochi and Kozhikode also.
The staff Officer to the S.P. manages the personal section of S.P.
The
security of the only airport at Agatti is managed by the strength of an
Inspector, one S.I., one (SI
woman), 2 HCs and 5 constables since 16.4.88.
The
Police station in each island is managed by an officer of the rank of Sub
Inspector except at Minicoy where an Inspector is posted as the OIC.
They are also designated as Registration Officers under LMA Islands
(Restriction on Entry and residence rules 1967) and Prohibition Officers
under Lakshadweep Prohibition Regulation 1967. The
Police Stations except Chetlath is provided with a jeep and motor cycle.
Lakshadweep
being the smallest in the country, the Police force is also very small.
The crime rate is also the lowest in the country.
The cases reported at the Police Stations amount to thefts,
trespass, rioting , mischief criminal breach of trust etc.
Heinous crimes are rare. Only
three murder cases are reported so far, two at Androth and one at Kalpeni
respectively.
A Fire Protection and Control unit has also been established in the
Union Territory since 1994 and are functioning in major islands of
Kavaratti, Minicoy, Agatti and Androth under the control of the OIC Police
stations. The Superintendent
of Police is designated as the Chief Fire Officer.
One fire tender each is available in the above islands in addition
to fire fighting equipments. Separate
fire stations have been established at Androth and Minicoy during 1996 and
1999 respectively. Distribution
of the force is shown in APPENDIX
IV.
A
Vigilance and anticorruption unit is also functioning here under the
supervision of Vigilance Officer at Secretariat.
Two
companies of MPSAF which were stationed in the islands
since 1974 has been replaced by the India Reserve Battalion raised
for Lakshadweep.
Daman & Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli since January 2001
headed by the Commandant at H.Q.Kavaratti.
The
officers and men of the force have been imparted training in various
subjects including modern techniques in investigation and computer
training. SCRB / DCRB is functioning
at PHQ.
The Deputy Superintendent of Police is the Drawing and Disbursing
Officer for the entire police force and fire force spread in the islands.
He is assisted by the accounts and establishment sections. |
