UP: Around 600 trainee women constables, who are receiving police training at the 26th Battalion PAC in Bichhiya, Shahpur area of Gorakhpur, protested over poor amenities at the training centre on Tuesday morning.
Several videos from the protest site have gone viral on social media, showing the trainees crying and screaming. The protesters have alleged that they were forced to bathe in the open and that they lack access to basic amenities such as water and electricity on the premises.
Levelling serious allegations, several trainees claimed that a camera had been installed in the bathroom area. Despite raising the issue with the training centre management, the matter remains unresolved.
According to reports, the trainees gathered at the PAC gate, creating an uproar and blocking the road in protest against the mismanagement and misconduct by the ITC in-charge.
Senior district officials arrived after receiving information and pacified the trainees through counselling before sending them back to the PAC premises.
According to local reports, 598 women from the Uttar Pradesh Civil Police 2023 batch arrived from various districts for training at the 26th Battalion PAC campus in Bichhiya on Monday.
The trainees allege severe shortages in facilities at the centre. There is only one reverse osmosis (RO) machine, and in the extreme heat, they receive just half a litre of RO water per day. The number of fans and water coolers is insufficient, and due to the lack of bathrooms, hygiene conditions are poor. Additionally, CCTV cameras have reportedly been installed in the bathroom gallery. They further allege that when they raise concerns, the in-charge misbehaves with them and uses inappropriate language.
Police Training Centre Has Capacity for Only 300
The trainees claim that the police training centre on the PAC campus was originally built to accommodate only 300 people, yet 598 women have been housed there.
PAC Commandant Anand Kumar has assured that the issues will be resolved. "Construction work, including additional bathrooms, is underway to expand the training centre's capacity. The problems will be addressed soon," he said.
