The trend has been on the rise during the past two years, prompting senior officials to give serious thought to what is wrong with the specialised force.

According to sources, about 1,500 APSP constables appeared for the recruitment test for civil and Special Protection Force (SPF) constables held recently, unmindful of the service they will have to forego. While 20 constables and a head constable were selected for SPF, about 100 constables are expected to join the civil force for which recruitment process is in the final stages.

On the other hand, at any given point, about 3,000 APSP men would be on deputation to SPF or excise department. Currently, as many as 1,500 APSPpersonnel are on deputation to the excise department alone.

The APSP, which has strength of 14,000, makes up one-sixth of the State's police force. In the earlier stages, duties of the paramilitary force were limited assisting civil police in specific assignments and returning to the battalions after the task was accomplished.

However, with the change in law and order situation owing to the Naxalite problem, the demand on APSP men has increased. ``They are undergoing a lot of stress and there is also a qualitative change in the nature of work,'' observed a senior official of the wing.

APSP men have been guarding as many as 280 police stations, mainly in the Naxal-dominated north Telangana districts. If the Naxalites raid any police station, it is the APSP personnel who become the first targets.

All the 24 platoons of the seventh battalion have been deployed in Nizamabad district. Twenty of the 24 platoons of first battalion are in Karimnagar while 18 of the 21 platoons of eighth battalion are inAdilabad district. As many as 18 of the 24 platoons of fourth battalion were posted in Warangal and the rest in Adilabad district.

One of the reasons why the personnel prefer deputation to other wings is that they would be away from anti-Naxalite operations for at least three years and have some time to spend with their families.

Those who are not fortunate to get deputation reportedly go on ``French leave'' so that they could spend time with their families. There were instances of men missing from the armed pickets. ``You cannot go on suspending them and it is unfair to stretch them too long,'' an official said.

Admitting that APSP men appeared for recruitment tests of other wings of the police, APSP inspector general Ramavtar Yadav said, ``We are aware of the situation and trying to initiate some steps to motivate our men''.

According to him, APSP constables are being relieved from permanent duties. Each company is being divided into four groups of 20 each and each group will be relieved for 15days. During this period, the personnel can go to the headquarters and attend to their family needs besides undergoing training in the battalion.

Another aspect being looked into is ``family welfare''. Medical camps were being organised in the battalions and families of constables persuaded to send their children to schools. ``We are also planning to open a public school for the children of APSP men on the lines of a school being run by Delhi police,'' Yadav said.