THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO
At a time when intelligence agencies have placed Goa on the list of possible terror attacks, eight companies of Goa Armed Police (GAP) left for Telangana for the 2019 Lok Sabha poll duty on Thursday evening.
A group of around 600 constables and 24 officers left for Telangana in a special train that left from Vasco Railway station at around 6 pm.
According to sources, the group will be on election duties across various locations in Telangana, which has 17 Lok Sabha constituencies and will vote in the first phase of elections on April 11.
A source informed that a special special train with about 10-12 coaches was arranged for the eight companies of GAP leaving for Telangana.
“The special train was arranged because the coaches are carrying the staff as well as their arms and ammunition. It is not a route train but a special train for election-related duty," said the source.
The source, however, questioned the need to send 600 constables and 24 officers for poll duty in other parts of the country. "There is a threat alert in Goa and in such a situation, sending so many staff of GAP could be risky. The government could have avoided the request citing the threat alert in the state.”
“The Goa police is also short of staff and many police stations are left with skeletal staff, since many policeman are already on election duty,” the source said.
The source, however, admitted that the positive side is that the personnel would get first-hand experience of handling elections in other states.
“However, the negative part is that the remuneration is not the same for GAP personnel and CRPF from other states. For instance, CRPF and other state police who are on election duty in Goa are entitled to claim their allowance per day for the number days that they have been on duty, in addition to their regular pay. However, GAP staff who left from Goa are only entitled to allowance for one day, that is election day," explained the source.
