Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], July 23 (ANI): Punjab Police has withdrawn 6,355 personnel from non-core duties to create "COVID Reserves" and reinforce its field force at police stations and in the Armed Battalions.

"Acting on the Chief Minister's directives, the Punjab Police has withdrawn 6,355 personnel from non-core duties to create COVID Reserves and reinforce its field force at police stations and in the Armed Battalions," read a press release from the Punjab Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

Also Read | Amazon-Reliance Deal: Jeff Bezos-Led Company In Talks to Buy 9.9% Stake in JioMart, Says Report.

"While 202 COVID Reserves have been created in police stations across districts, another 20 have been constituted in the Armed Battalions, to improve operational readiness for enforcement of the various safety norms and protocols in place in the state," the press release said.

It said, the manpower mobilisation exercise was undertaken from July 17, and as of July 23, 3,669 personnel were part of the 202 COVID Reserves in districts while 475 were in the COVID Reserves of the Armed Battalions, disclosed DGP Dinkar Gupta.

Also Read | Honor 9S Budget Smartphone To Be Launched in India on July 31; Expected Prices, Features & Specifications.

The diversion of force has been done from non-core police duties at District Police Offices, Police Lines, Saanjh Kendras, those attached with Police/Civil officers and threatened persons, and officials on temporary attachment with other units, the press release said.

Disclosing this during the COVID review Video Conference (VC) meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, the DGP said, post the exercise, an additional 1800 police personnel have been mobilised at the police stations, across the ranks of Constable to Inspector.

The press release added, as far as the Armed Battalions are concerned, the additional personnel deployment, in addition to 475 in the COVID Reserves, has been made at Shambhu Barrier (118), Security duty in districts (191) and NGOs of Armed Battalions (102). (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)