TOBA TEK SINGH, Nov 6: A deputy superintendent of police (DSP) has been assigned charge of five offices simultaneously because of shortage of police officers in the district.

Headquarters DSP Abid Ali is presently holding the charge of four additional offices -- investigation SP, Sadar circle DSP, investigation DSP and of driving licensing authority.

According to sources, the slots of investigation SP and investigation DSP had been lying vacant for the last several months since the transfer of the officers concerned.

Similarly, since the recent retirement of Sadar circle DSP Ahmad Javed, no officer was posted against the slot.

Mr Ali was also given the charge of traffic DSP office, a slot lying unoccupied for many months.

The situation is causing inconvenience to members of public who find it hard to contact the 'busiest' officer of the district.