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RSS pracharak assault: BJP shunts two IPS officers
The Madhya Pradesh government on Sunday transferred two senior Indian Police Service officials posted in Balaghat in connection with the alleged assault of a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharak inside police custody in the district.
The Madhya Pradesh government on Sunday transferred two senior Indian Police Service officials posted in Balaghat in connection with the alleged assault of a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharak inside police custody in the district.
Inspector general of police (Balaghat range) DC Sagar and district police chief Asit Yadav were shifted out of district by the state home department.
Sagar, who was spearheading the anti-Maoist operations in the Maoist-hit district since September 2014, has been shifted to police headquarters in Bhopal as inspector general of police (planning) and replaced by G Janardan, who is presently posted as inspector general of police ( anti-naxal operations).
The shake-up comes close on the heels of suspension of ten police officers, including additional superintendent of police Rajesh Sharma, Baihar police station chief Zia ul Haq and a sub inspector.
Nine of the police officials have been booked for attempt to murder, loot, rioting and criminal intimidation for allegedly beating the RSS pracharak in custody on September 25. But none of the accused police officials have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Yadav was taken in the custody for allegedly posting offensive post about All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi on social media platforms.
The home department also transferred Umaria superintendent of police Chandrashekhar Solanki as additional inspector general of police in the police headquarters in Bhopal. Jabalpur additional superintendent of police Ashish Khare will be the new zonal SP of the special branch at Jabalpur.
The state government’s action has, however, not at all gone down well a section of senior police officials in the district who said the move has demoralized the entire police force. “If such developments keep on taking place, then we won’t be able to work,” said a senior district police official.
“The next time when we spot a suspect or criminal and before questioning or acting against him we’ll first have to verify from the person whether he belongs to a particular ideology or political party or not,” the official said.
“It’s difficult to perform our duties in an objective manner in such a suffocating situation.”
Colleagues of Baihar police station chief Haq have started a “symbolic protest” on social media by posting his photograph as their profile picture on Facebook and WhatsApp.
Transferred
District police chief Asit Yadav, who was posted in the Maoist-hit district just a couple of months back, has been shifted and posted as commandant of state armed force’s 13th Battalion in Gwalior. Amit Sanghi, who was superintendent of police (special branch) in Jabalpur, will replace him.
