Responding to an RTI application,the state government has said that it does not have information pertaining to suspended IPS officer D G Vanzaras beard. According to the applicant,there are specific rules for policemen sporting beard while in service such as religion or medical ground; however,the state government seems to have overlooked the rules in case of Vanzara. Mumbai-based NGO Kutch Ladayak Manch had sought information asking the state government reasons behind permitting Vanzara to grow beard. According to the NGO,there are certain rules for police personnel in service which allow them to grow beard. The NGO filed an RTI on July 15 and sought information from the Director General of Polices office that for what reason Vanzara was permitted to sport beard. The DGP office sent the application to the Home department. The Home department on October 5 replied that it doesnt have any information in this regard. The red coloured beard has been Vanzaras trademark for more than a decade now. Vanzara,a key accused in several encounter cases,including Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Ishrat Jahan,has been sporting beard before he was arrested for the first time in 2007 by the state CID probing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter. Vanzara is at currently lodged in the Sabarmati Central Jail here in connection with the Ishrat Jahan encounter case. Vanzaras beard came to limelight following the statement of an accused policeman,D H Goswami,whose testimony referred Vanzara as lal dadhi (red beard) in connection with the Ishrat Jahan encounter case.
