The two policemen, who were caught on video dragging a thief brutally after tying one of his legs to a motorcycle, were dismissed from service on Thursday.
Till Wednesday, the authorities were insisting that the two policemen could be dismissed only after they had been given the opportunity, during departmental proceedings, to explain their conduct. The same authorities seem to have buckled under mounting criticism of police brutality, and recommended the dismissals.
While DIG, eastern range, Girjanandan Sharma, recommended the dismissal of ASI Lal Bahadur Singh, Superintendent of Police (SP) Jitendra Singh Gangwar recommended the dismissal of police constable Ram Chandra Rai. When contacted, DIG Sharma confirmed that he had recommended the ASI’s dismissal. The SP said the dismissals had been recommended under Article 311, sub-clause 2 (b) of the Constitution.