Hyderabad, Oct 21 (IANS): Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy Monday paid tributes to policemen who laid down their lives while discharging their duties.

The two leaders paid their respects at Police Commemoration Day parade held at Gosha Mahal Stadium here.

As many as 576 police personnel were killed during discharge of their duties in the country in the last one year. They include K.L.V.S.S.H.N.V. Prasad Babu, an inspector of Andhra Pradesh Special Police who was killed by Maoists in Chhattisgarh in April.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said Andhra Pradesh Police should become number one police force in the country. He said the police shoulder high responsibility in the society and they have to be always on their toes.

In an obvious reference to the protests during the past few years for and against separate state of Telangana, the chief minister said the work pressure on police has increased due to the situation prevailing in the state. He said to ease the work pressure, 28,000 policemen were recruited during last three years.

Kiran Reddy promised that the government would take all possible measures for the welfare of policemen and their families.

Director General of Police B. Prasada Rao mmade various suggestions for the welfare of police personnel. He called for increasing the budget for construction and maintenance of police quarters.

The police chief also suggested that the state government extend the same Aarogyasri benefits to police personnel as were given to government employees.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma and other senior officials were also present.

Similar programmes to pay tributes to police martyrs were held in districts.