Rane and his deputy Gopinath Munde, who also holds the Home portfolio, were addressing a meeting of the State's top police officials at Mantralaya this afternoon.

Rane's assurance is expected to boost the morale of the Maharashtra police as the announcement may translate into a substantial rise in salaries of lower rung police personnel. Rane said he will hold discussions with police officers in this regard before the Budget session of the State Legislature which begins on March 15, 1999.

Rane appealed to the State police to be on the alert saying there was a rise in organised crime, highway robberies and crimes against women. He, however, praised the police for being on guard, saying there had been no communal riots in the State.

The meeting was attended to by Minister of State for Home Prabhakar More, Chief Secretary PSubramaniam, Director General of Police Arvind Inamdar and other high ranking IPS officers.