Patna, Oct 21 (Reporter) While distributing the appointment letters to 1239 newly appointed Police Sub Inspectors, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced to make 78000 appointments in the police department within the next 6 months. After symbolically distributing the appointment letters, Kumar said here on Monday that the existing strength of police personnel in the police force was 1 lakh 10 thousand and it should be 2 lakh 29 thousand. The process for the appointment of 21000 police personnel was in progress and initiatives have been taken for an additional appointment of 20000 police personnel. The Chief Minister instructed the Director General of Police to make an appointment of the rest of the 78000 police personnel within the next 6 months. Kumar said that among the newly appointed police sub-inspectors, 442 were women and maintained that it was his government that provided 35 percent reservation to the women in the police force in the year 2013 and since then their strength has increased by 30000 in the police department. With this, women complainants were feeling comfortable while making complaints at women's police stations. The Chief Minister highlighted the law and order situation before his government came to power in Bihar in 2005 and said that his government took several steps to improve the situation for which the strength of the police force which was only 42000 at that time increased gradually. The police system was streamlined and the responsibilities of investigations and maintenance of law and order were divided for better execution, he said adding that in addition to night patrolling day patrolling was also initiated. He said because of the poor law and order situation earlier the people lived in an atmosphere of fear and used to avoid stepping out after evening but now they are working outside even till late at night. Kumar said communal tension was a common phenomenon at that time which has improved and the police have played an important role in it. The Chief Minister also spoke in detail about the appointments being made in various departments and reiterated to provide 12 lakh jobs instead of 10 lakh. The state was progressing fast, he said, and maintained that with the help of the centre he would transform Bihar into a developed state...////...