Besides shortage of 567 policemen, some vital officer-level posts are vacant, sources said.

There is no officer-in-charge (OC) at Kaptai and Chandraghuna thanas for several months while Farua and Sazek thanas are virtually in an "abandoned state" due to shortage of policemen, they said.

Incidents of crime like kidnapping, extortion, drug peddling and robbery goes unabated due to the shortage.

Besides, clashes often take place between Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Shamity (PCJSS) and United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) over supremacy in the district.

When contacted, Police Superintendent Humayun Kabir told this correspondent on Thursday, "There are 2987 policemen for 13 police stations in the district. This is 20 percent less than the requirement.

"The post of Additional Police Super (special), five posts of Assistant Police Super (ASP), one post of District Investigation Officer (DIO-1) and the post of Borkol Upazila Circle ASP are vacant", the he said. "The police force also lacks proper logistic support", he added.