1 more cop dies during physical test,two critical

One constable died and 10 others fell ill while taking physical endurance test for promotion to sub-inspector rank in Azamgarh on Wednesday. Three youths,who were appearing for the test for appointment as S-Is on compassionate ground,also fell ill during the test in Lucknow. Such appointments are made from the families of policemen who have died on duty. Earlier,a head constable had died and several others were taken ill after physical endurance test began in various district a week ago. In the test,candidates have to run a distance of 10 kms in 75 minutes.

The SP of Azamgarh,Bhagwan Swaroop Srivastava,said that of the 11 constables who fainted during the run,one Anees-u-zzama (36) died of respiratory arrest. He was posted with the Ram Nagar police station in Varanasi district.

Srivastava said three other constables who did not recover during the treatment at the district hospital were later referred to BHU,Varanasi. The condition of two of them is stated to be critical,he added.

The constables,Srivastava said,are advised to undergo a medical examination before appearing for the test. They are also warned about it before the beginning of the run,he added.

In Lucknow,one of the three youths who fell ill while taking the physical test has been admitted to Balrampur Hospital. Since candidates seeking appointment on compassionate ground are young,they have to complete the 10-km run in 60 minutes,said a police officer.