Approximately, 1500 posts are lying vacant at present. "The present strength of the force stands at 3,050 while the sanctioned strength is 4,202. There is a need to sanction an additional 3,064 posts at different stages to meet the requirements,” said a senior police official.

Of the present strength, 447 police officials have been sent for VIP security.

Proposals in this regard had been sent to the government as many as four times in the past but nothing has been done about it, he said.

A proposal for increase in the strength of officials at police stations was sent way back in 1995 when the Bureau for Police Research and Development (BPRD) had expressed a shortage of 1,135 posts. After the Government of India took note of it, a revised proposal for 705 posts was sent which was pending till 2004.

Soon after, the BPRD assessed the situation and recommended 1,135 posts. This proposal too was pending till April 2007. The last such proposal to sanction an increased strength was sent in February this year by the Inspector General of Police.

Now, a fresh study by the BPRD to assess the requirement is being conducted while the strength remains the same and continues to dwindle owing to cancellation of new recruitments following the scam.