HM assures salaries to cops in VR

Vijayawada: Home minister Vangalapudi Anitha assured that police personnel in vacancy reserve (VR) will receive their salaries and pending dues. Speaking at the legislative council on Monday, she clarified that VR is not a suspension and that officers placed in this category should not be denied their rightful benefits.Anitha revealed that between 2014 and 2019, police personnel in VR received 50% of their salaries. In contrast, she alleged that during YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's tenure, several officers remained in VR for four years without any financial relief, as previous YSRCP govt refused to pay them even a single rupee. She accused the previous administration of using VR as a tool to sideline officers perceived as sympathetic to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), depriving them of financial security.Currently, 199 police officers are in VR, but present govt is ensuring that their pending payments are being processed. Anitha emphasised that in the coalition govt, officers are placed in VR only in cases involving allegations or controversial decisions. She explained that VR under the current administration is merely a waiting period, and once inquiries are completed and approvals are granted, all pending bills and salaries are being cleared in one go.