Artistes perform at the opening ceremony of the 60th All India Police Games 2011 in Patna on Wednesday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Feb.1: Inaugurating the 60th All India Police Games 2011 (volleyball cluster) at Mithilesh Stadium, chief minister Nitish Kumar today said a new policy for the recruitment of sportspersons in the state police force was under consideration of the government.

“The sportspersons will be appointed as constables, sub-inspectors and deputy superintendents of police on the basis of their performance at state- and national-level competitions,” he said.

The chief minister asked the director-general of police (DGP), Abhayanand, to submit a proposal for construction of a sports complex at Mithilesh Stadium to facilitate more sports events.

Highlighting the importance of games and sports in public life, the chief minister said the government was keen to promote sports activities in the state. “It gave me immense pleasure when youths demanded stadia in countryside during my different yatras,” he said.

Referring to improved law and order situation in the state, the chief minister said earlier the people across the country talked about Bihar for its bad law and order. “The state police personnel played an important role in the image makeover,” he said.

Earlier, DGP Abhyanand welcomed the participants of the All India Police Games 2011. As many as 350 girl students of Government High School at Shastri Nagar presented a cultural show at the opening ceremony of the event.

Education minister P.K. Shahi and minister for sports and culture Sukhda Pandey were present on the occasion.