Rohtas: A four-day Sachchidanand Akhori Shooting Championship began on Saturday at the Bihar Special Armed Police (BSAP)–2 campus in Dehri, in Bihar’s Rohtas district. The competition was inaugurated by Director General of Police (DGP) Vinay Kumar, who described the event as a long-standing tradition that strengthens professionalism and discipline within the police force.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the DGP said the championship has been organised for nearly four decades, though it faced a brief interruption in recent years. He said the event brings together personnel from multiple units, creating a platform for healthy competition while encouraging officers and constables to sharpen their operational skills.
Officials said a total of 22 police teams from BSAP and other units are participating in the championship. The ceremony featured a march past by the participating teams accompanied by the Bihar Military Police band. Women police personnel led the parade, drawing applause from the audience and highlighting the growing presence of women in policing.
The championship was formally declared open after the DGP released balloons and doves as symbols of celebration and peace. BSAP Director General Jitendra Kumar also attended the event and presented a commemorative memento to the police chief. Demonstrations by mounted police personnel, including tent-fixing drills and horse-riding displays, added to the spectacle. Constable Manoj Kumar Singh impressed spectators with a performance alongside his horse, Ragini.
During his address, the DGP also outlined plans to significantly expand the Bihar Police workforce. He said around 22,000 police personnel are currently undergoing training at 56 training centres across the state. In addition, nearly 20,000 newly recruited constables will soon begin training. Over the next one-and-a-half to two years, he said, between 45,000 and 50,000 new constables are expected to complete training and join the force.
After the inauguration ceremony, the DGP and senior BSAP officials visited the firing range, where the competition officially commenced with pistol shooting demonstrations. Several senior officers attended the event, including BSAP Inspector General Sanjay Kumar, Central Range DIG Meenu Kumari, Shahabad Range DIG Dr Satyaprakash and Rohtas SP Roshan Kumar, along with commandants from different police units.
In the evening, BSAP personnel organised a cultural programme featuring musical performances that entertained the audience. The programme was hosted by DSP Sanjay Jha.
