Memorial force by June-end,says state DGP

“We had sent a demand for the list of ex-Army officers from the Directorate General of Resettlement,Ministry of Defence. The directorate has sent the list and the process is on to select the officers required for various ranks in the special force,” DGP Karamvir Singh said.

“The names of the officers are expected to be chosen by the first week of June after which the process of interview would begin,” Singh said.

The DGP also said the Uttar Pradesh Sainik Kalyan Nigam would provide the personnel for the lower-rung,including that of the constabulary,in the proposed set-up. They have already sent the demand of the manpower to the Nigam and the list of the ex-Armymen are expected anytime,he said.

Asked if the personnel in the force would have the powers to make arrests,the DGP said their role would be restricted to the security of the memorials and hence there would be separate regulations for them,which are being drafted.

The notification issued for setting up of the force stated it would have a strength of 1,230 personnel and designations would be identical to those in PAC. These include a commandant,a deputy commandant,an assistant commandant,company commanders,platoon commanders,head constables and the constables.

Significantly,the Bill and the Ordinance for setting up the force are still pending with the Governor,but the government had issued an administrative order for creating a battalion meant for the security of the memorials in March last.