Computer bug has bitten Bathinda SSP Naunihal Singh, and an intensive computer learning programme for police personnel in the district is on the cards.

At present, 90 per cent of the 2,000-strong police force in Bathinda doesn’t understand the IT mumbo jumbo. “A computer knowledge test was conducted for the force some time back. More than 90 per cent of the district police officials did not know the basics,” ASP Harsh Bansal told The Indian Express.

“Not only this, half of the gazetted officers were also found non-proficient in computers,” added Bansal.

Naunihal said initially, the police would get 22 desktops and eight laptops, and the process to acquire them would begin tomorrow. “The 100-day programme for 360 personnel to begin with will formally take off next month,” Naunihal said.

The district police have already got Rs 13 lakh from MPLAD funds for training, he said. “The programme is in line with the Union government’s Common Integrated Police Application (CIPA) initiative. We will first focus on imparting computer education to those associated with record-keeping and working at munshi level,” said Naunihal.