Patna: The Bihar Police Academy (BPA) in Rajgir is on course to become one of the state’s largest police training hubs, with its capacity set to reach 6,000 personnel once a new 4,000-capacity constable training school is completed beside the existing academy.The upcoming training school is in its final stages of construction, Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar said on Tuesday while addressing the academy’s 18th Foundation Day celebrations in Rajgir, Nalanda. The expansion will bring training facilities for constables, sub-inspectors and senior police officers together on the same campus.The DGP said the academy is preparing for a major increase in the number of police personnel to be trained. “Recruitment of 1,295 sub-inspectors is currently underway, while a batch of more than 100 newly recruited DSPs selected through the Bihar Public Service Commission is also expected to join the academy. In the coming days, another 10,000 police personnel will be recruited and trained in the state,” he said.Kumar described the BPA as the “backbone” of the state police force and said it has evolved from a basic training institution into a modern centre equipped to provide practical, forensic and specialised training.The academy now has a regional forensic science laboratory, a model police station, horse-riding and dog-squad training facilities and an international-standard swimming pool. Kumar said swimming training is particularly important for Bihar police personnel because the state frequently faces floods and police teams are often required to assist in rescue operations.The foundation day ceremony began with a ceremonial march past, during which Kumar received the general salute and inspected the parade. Academy director R Malar Vizhi, deputy director Abhay Kumar Lal and other senior police officials attended the event.Tracing the history of police training in Bihar, Kumar said the first dedicated training school in the region was established at Nathnagar in Bhagalpur in 1895. The training system later shifted to Ranchi and Hazaribag. However, the bifurcation of Bihar and Jharkhand in 2000 left Bihar without the major police training institutions that had gone to the newly formed Jharkhand state.The Bihar Police Academy was notified in 2008 to address the shortage of a dedicated institution for training sub-inspectors and DSP-level officers. The foundation stone of the Rajgir campus was laid in 2009, but construction faced repeated delays.Kumar recalled that several projects remained incomplete when he took charge as CMD in 2021. The swimming pool and other facilities were subsequently completed, while the auditorium is now the only major project awaiting completion and has been directed to be finished within a month, he added.So far, around 3,000 officers and more than 8,000 sub-inspectors and DSPs have received basic training through the academy and its earlier temporary centres. The academy has also conducted refresher and in-service courses for serving officers.Emphasising the importance of practical policing, Kumar said police officers cannot rely only on classroom knowledge while dealing with organised crime, terrorism and Naxalism. Recalling his postings in Naxal-affected Chatra, Palamu and Garhwa, he said courage, fieldcraft, patience and strategic thinking are essential for handling dangerous situations.The state is also expanding police training infrastructure at Dumraon and Simultala, while land has been acquired for new training centres in Banka, Bettiah and Motihari.Academy director Vizhi said the institution has turned the vision behind its establishment in 2008 into a strong and vibrant training centre. “The academy will continue to focus on producing professionally trained police officers capable of strengthening law and order in Bihar,” she said.The 18th Foundation Day celebrations concluded with the ceremonial parade exit and a vote of thanks by deputy director Lal.
