THE STATE Government on Sunday suspended senior superintendent of police, Kanpur Nagar, Prem Chand Meena. The action, according to home department sources, against Meena was taken for his casual approach in dealing with the situation arising out of desecration of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s statue.
Superintendent of Police Bijnor Alok Singh has been appointed Kanpur’s new SSP.
Secretary (Home) RM Srivastava, however, said Meena failed to control crime in the district. He also failed to take preventive measures to check the activities of the criminals that led to law and order problems in the city, he said.
On Sunday, principal secretary (Home) SK Agarwal and DGP Bua Singh also visited Kanpur to review the situation. They took the local police officers to task for their failure to maintain law and order in the district.
Both the officials accepted that basic policing had taken a beating and a lot was required to be done to improve the situation in the city and its rural areas. DIG Kanpur Zone was directed to maintain direct contact with the in-charge of all the police stations.
In the evening, the DGP office said Meena had been shifted and Alok Singh would be the new incumbent. But late in the night, the Home Department issued orders for suspension of Meena. According to sources, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav was briefed by Agarwal and Bua Singh about the situation in Kanpur. It was on the CM’s instance that Meena was suspended, sources said.
It may be recalled that an HT report that Arun Valmiki, who was taken into custody on the charge of desecrating the statue, was paid Rs 1 lakh for owning up the crime had proved to be a major embarrassment for the government.
The plot to find a scapegoat was prepared by an SO on the direction of Meena. Valmiki, a daily wage earner, was picked for the job and was promised Rs 1 lakh for owning up the crime.
In the evening, the DGP office said Meena had been shifted and Alok Singh would be the new incumbent. But late in the night, the Home Department issued orders for suspension of Meena. According to sources, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav was briefed by Agarwal and Bua Singh about the situation in Kanpur. It was on the CM’s instance that Meena was suspended, sources said.
It may be recalled that an HT report that Arun Valmiki, who was taken into custody on the charge of desecrating the statue, was paid Rs 1 lakh for owning up the crime had proved to be a major embarrassment for the government.
The plot to find a scapegoat was prepared by an SO on the direction of Meena. Valmiki, a daily wage earner, was picked for the job and was promised Rs 1 lakh for owning up the crime.
Valmiki was also threatened with dire consequences if he failed to accept the proposal. Valmiki gave in. When the cops failed to keep their promise and paid merely Rs 1,000 to Valimiki, he decided to give the cops the slip, which he did. Valmiki’s arrest forced people to come out on streets. The city was again in flames when a mob protesting against Valmiki’s arrest ransacked shops and damaged vehicles.