On DF govt's request, Gujarat despatches two SRP companies to state

On DF govt's request, Gujarat despatches two SRP companies to state
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

AHMEDABAD, JULY 23: The Gujarat Government has sent two companies of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) totalling about 150 men to Mumbai on a request from the Maharashtra Government following fears of a deteriorating law and order problem in the state in the wake of the expected arrest of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Hiralal said the Maharashtra Government had requested for five companies. ``However, we had to send eight companies of SRP to Surat following a law and order problem there,'' he said. ``Therefore, we could manage only two companies for Maharashtra,'' he said.

It was not unusual for the State to send reserve forces to other states, Hiralal said. The State had recently sent SRP companies to West Bengal in view of the municipal elections to be held there. ``We have also been regularly sending companies to UP and Bihar,'' he said. The SRP jawans, will be remunerated by the Maharashtra Government during the period of their deployment in the state, he added.

Asked how was it that the BJP Government was sending its police-force from Gujarat against its partners the Shiv Sena, Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya replied cautiously. ``We are not sending the force against them. It is for the protection of the common citizen fearing a law and order problem,' he said.