Police justifies fund demand for SAF Games

SHILLONG: Meghalaya police has defended its projection of Rs 7 crore as security expense for the 12th edition of South Asian Games (SAG), formerly known as the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games,  scheduled to be held in February next year.
In the last review meeting with Union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in Shillong, the State Government on behalf of Meghalaya police had sought Rs 7  crore  as security expenses and the Union Government  officials did not give any commitment to the  projection of the State police.
Justifying the demand, a state police source on Monday said, “Most players will reach Shillong 10 to 15 days before the formal inaugural of the event and we will have to provide security to all at least for a month”.
“We are committed to provide security to all during the event and for this we need fund,” the sources said adding that there was no such proposal to install CCTV cameras in the city under the second phase of the Safe Shillong project “but if the cameras can be installed for the event, it would be of great help for police.”