New Delhi, Sept. 27: The first list of 100 pot-bellied Delhi policemen is out.

The personnel — sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors, constables and head constables among them — will have to trim their bulging tummies to 34 inches within one month. If they find hitting the gym a drag, they may try a bhangra-dance drill like their counterparts in Punjab do.

Last week, Delhi police did tests to check the fitness level of its force. “Within a week we have identified 100 traffic cops with bulging tummies and the number is expected to increase in the coming days. We have already removed 100 obese policemen from the capital’s roads and they have been posted to other departments,” said a senior IPS officer.

If the traffic policemen fail to reach the desired shape in a month, they will have to pay a fine. They may also be posted in other departments as a punishment.

“We have instructed the 100 pot-bellied cops to shed the extra flab within a month by joining gyms and doing bhangra dance if they want to join the traffic department again,” the officer said. “Our men will again measure their waistlines and if they do not spot any loss of girth, the personnel will be asked to pay a nominal fine.”

The bhangra dance should help, he said. “The weight-shedding bhangra dance technique is good and effective. Punjab police frequently adopt it to make their cops fitter and healthier…. They (Delhi policemen) are being asked to shed extra inches or be ready to be posted in other departments. Fitter and leaner policemen will replace them.”

Another IPS officer said many pot-bellied policemen had approached senior officers already for an audience. “They are coming to tell us that they have started going to the gym and are requesting us not to remove them from their traffic posts,” he said laughing.