Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: The operational health of Jharkhand’s police battalions is under strain as nearly half of them function without permanent commandants. Despite central funds helping create new units, essential management posts remain unfilled, leaving 12 out of 21 battalions to run under acting officers.
Battalions Working Without Full Commandants
Key formations such as the Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP), Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB), Special India Reserve Battalion (SIRB), and the State Industrial Security Force (SISF) are affected. Among JAP’s 10 battalions, three — JAP 1, JAP 3, and JAP 5 — are led by officers holding additional charge. Seven of eight IRB battalions (1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, and 10) also lack regular commandants. SIRB’s first unit and SISF’s sole battalion face similar gaps, highlighting a widespread leadership vacuum.
Impact on Supervision and Field Operations
IRB battalions were created to reduce reliance on paramilitary forces in anti-Naxal operations, with five fully funded by the Centre. However, the absence of commandants has stalled routine inspections. Regulations require a commandant to visit every picket annually and spend a night there to assess ground realities — a practice now reduced to paperwork. Most battalions are overseen by SP-rank officers already burdened with district responsibilities, raising doubts over their ability to focus on troop welfare and operational oversight.
