Suspended cop turns poet in prison

Published by a city-based publication house,Navratan Enterprises,the poetry collections have been named Vijaypanth and Sinhgarjana. “These books will be released by noted political columnist Vishnu Pandya and Gujarati filmstar of yesteryears,Upendra Trivedi,” said V G Vanzara,the under secretary in the State Human Rights Commission and the brother of the suspended officer.

He added: “My brother has penned over 2,000 poems on various subjects like his own life experiences,nationalism,patriotism,terrorism,spiritualism and love—all in jail. The publishers have picked up 290 of these poems and compiled them into two books.”

The officer was arrested on April 24,2007 for his alleged involvement in the November 26,2005 encounter and the murder of Sohrabuddin’s wife Kausarbi. He has been in judicial custody since May 9,2007.

Vanzara added: “He started composing poems as a pastime at his barrack in the Sardar Patel yard in jail. This gradually became a passion and turned him into a poet.”

Both books contain 145 poems each. Vijaypanth has been priced at Rs 150,while Sinhgarjana,said sources,will be available in the market for Rs 200.

The suspended DIG had joined Gujarat Police in 1980 and was elevated to the IPS cadre in 1990. He is the seniormost of the three IPS officers jailed in connection with the fake encounter case. Apart from the IPS trio,10 other policemen from Gujarat and Rajasthan are lodged in the jail for their alleged role in the case.