Encroachment: Two cops suspended

“The (senior) officer noticed the encroachment during a surprise visit to the market. He called the station house officer of the Connaught Place police station — under whose jurisdiction Janpath comes — seeking the names of the area in-charge and reason for the encroachment,” a senior police officer said.

S-I Prasad is the divisional officer of the Janpath road and Singh was also deputed in the area.

The police officials said the senior officer had noticed stall on pavements by Gujarati women.

Sources said a departmental inquiry has been initiated against the duo and vigilance inquiry was also sought in the matter.

According to police sources,the joint commissioner of police also pulled up the senior officers of the Connaught Place police station.

For the past three months,senior Delhi Police officers,including the top cop,Y S Dadwal,have been monitoring the department to improve the policing in the Capital.

There have been cases in the past when action has been initiated against the policemen:
* In September 2008,a raid was conducted at the Palika Bazaar,which also comes under Connaught Place jurisdiction. The then SHO along with other six policemen were suspended for selling of pirated CD’s.
* In April this year,16 Delhi Police personnel,including an SHO and an assistant commissioner of police were suspended on various charges in separate cases.
* Four constables were suspended,and later arrested,for allegedly extorting money from a travel agent in New Friends Colony,Southeast Delhi.
* In another case,10 policemen posted in Jaitpur police station in Southeast Delhi were suspended and sent to the district lines on charges of corruption. Police officials said the 10,along with their SHO and ACP,were found taking bribes to allow unauthorised construction in the area.