Bhopal News: SAF Struggling With 4,000 Vacant Posts, Operations Hit

**Manpower Shortage Hits Special Armed Force in Madhya Pradesh**

*Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh):* The Special Armed Force (SAF), the state’s second-largest police wing after the district police, is grappling with an acute manpower shortage, which is adversely affecting its operations and response during law-and-order situations.

With a sanctioned strength of 23,899 personnel, the SAF currently has only 19,713 members, leaving 4,136 posts vacant. This significant shortfall has forced existing staff to work extended hours without regular leave. Despite repeated representations, these vacancies remain unfilled.

**Why the Crisis?**

Unlike the district police, SAF personnel are required to stay within battalion lines, away from their families, and are often posted in remote or sensitive areas. They are extensively deployed during VIP movements, election duties, disaster management, and inter-state operations.

While district police staff can return home after duty hours, SAF members cannot leave their posts without permission. This demanding work environment often pushes recruits to seek transfers to district postings.

**Recruitment Gap**

Around 1,000 posts in the SAF remain vacant even after the 2023 Police Selection Recruitment Examination. Of the 2,600 candidates allotted to the SAF, only 1,610 joined for training. The rest either did not report or opted for other postings.

Officials are hopeful that the upcoming Police Constable Recruitment Exam will help fill these gaps by bringing in at least 2,500 new constables next year.

Irshad Wali, Inspector General of the SAF, stated, “There are approximately 4,000 vacant posts, most of them constables. Around 1,000 selected candidates have not joined. Preparations are underway to fill these posts from the waiting list.”

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The SAF’s manpower challenges highlight the pressing need for improved recruitment and retention strategies to ensure effective law enforcement across Madhya Pradesh.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-news-saf-struggling-with-4000-vacant-posts-operations-hit

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