PATNA, June 29 -- Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday said that in keeping with the government's policy to boost the strength of police, including that of women, the number of cops had reached 2.5 times compared to 2005 so far and it was still growing. He was speaking at a function here, where appointment letters were distributed to 21,391 newly recruited constables, including 52.25% women. DGP Vinay Kumar administered the oath to all of them. These constables will play a crucial role in enhancing policing across the state, with a focus on improved responsibilities, better community engagement and efficient crime control. "It was in 2013 that a decision was taken to give 35% reservation to women in police. When we formed the government in 2005, the strength of police was just 42,480, including 843 women only. Today, the strength of the police has reached 1.10-lakh due to our consistent efforts and our aim is to take it to 2.29-lakh," the CM said. He said the police officials had assured him that 55,000 recruitments would be done differently and the one recruitment exam for 19,838 posts would commence next month. The exams for the rest of the posts would also be done quickly," he added. Kumar said no other state had as many women in police as Bihar. Earlier deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, Vijay Kumar Sinha, parliamentary affairs minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, energy minister Bijendra Yadav called upon the newly appointed cops to work with full dedication in the interest of the people. Development commissioner Pratyay Amrit, DG (BSAP) Amrendra Kumar Ambedkar, DG (Training) Preeta Verma and other senior officials were present on the occasion. DGP said the government was constantly working to provide facilities and equipment to the police, be it in terms of police station buildings, equipment, vehicles etc. and the improvement was visible. "Apart from 1,380 police stations, 563 more will be set up. The buildings for 675 police stations are being built, while the proposal for 349 is under process. The number of vehicles has also jumped from 4,009 in 2005 to 11,000. As far as weapons are considered, the availability has more than doubled during the period," he added. In the first recruitment of this magnitude, Bihar government came out with 21,391 vacancies of constables for which around 18-lakh candidates had applied. The government wanted to complete the exercise before the 2024 Parliamentary elections. The exam was planned for three days in view of a large number of candidates - October 1, 7 and October 15, 2023 at 545 different centres in 38 districts in a single shift from noon to 2pm. However, the very first day the questions leaked and following uproar the exam had to be cancelled and further exams postponed. Police had registered 75 FIRs across 23 districts and arrested 207 persons. The government on March 7, 2024, almost three months after the exam was cancelled, removed chairman of the Central Selection Board of Constables (CSBC) and former Bihar DGP SK Singhal....