Govt. action causes resentment among Bihar policemen

By Our Staff Correspondent

PATNA, MARCH 19. The State Government and the police are headed for a confrontation over the developments in Siwan, where the rebellious policemen had carried out an operation against the RJD MP, Mr. Bhahbuddin, last week following which the Army was called in.

Once matters settled, the State Government swung into action, bringing down the axe on the top brass posted in Siwan, clearly favouring the controversial MP. The former Chief Minister and RJD president, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, breaking his silence over the issue today, said the State Government had taken the revolt by the policemen seriously and was compelled to summon the Army.

Apart from removing the Divisional Magistrate and Superintendent of Police of Siwan and the range DIG, the State Government suspended two ADM rank officials and ordered an administrative enquiry by the member of the Board of Revenue, Mr. S. N. Biswas, to look into the entire episode and fix responsibility for the shootout.

Significantly, before cracking its whip and initiating action, the State Government had deputed a team of Cabinet Ministers to visit Pratapur village where the police had attacked the RJD MP's house on Thursday last and announced compensation to those killed in the encounter with the police.

Several RJD Ministers and MLAs had also come out in favour of their party MP who has since gone into hiding after the police lodged fresh cases of murder and possession of illegal arms. The Government has conveniently ignored these facts.

The RJD spokesman, Mr. Shivananda Tiwari, has squarely blamed the police for the brawl with Mr. Shahbuddin and went to the extent of condemning the police raid, charging that the motive was not to arrest but to eliminate him.

The Government action has apparently caused much resentment among the top police officials and the policemen down the ladder. The Bihar Police Association and the Bihar Policemen's Association have jointly taken exception to the State Government's action today. They served an ultimatum to concede their demands within a week, failing which they would decide on their future course of action next week.

Mr. K. K. Jha of the Bihar Policemen's Association said the Government's decision amounted to political interference and demoralising to the police force which could affect their efficiency.

The two associations, which account for 65,000 personnel right from the constable to the junior level officers, condemned the statement and demanded that the transfer of the SP be withdrawn immediately. They also registered their protest to the compensation package announced for those killed in the police firing, pointing out that the Government had shown no concern over the death of two police personnel in the exchange of fire.

The joint meeting was of the view that the member of the Board of Revenue could not be expected to do justice in the wake of the fact that the Ministers had openly sides with the RJD MP and opposed police action and hence demanded a judicial probe into the mater.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Other States
Previous : 11 MLAs suspended from Assembly
Next     : Opposition votes out business agenda