Gafoor ‘cop slur’: CM hints at action

“I think the police force is disciplined. We will see what has to be done in the matter. This action is not as per police discipline; the home minister will take action. This sort of statement was not as per police discipline,he could have expressed in any other manner,” Chavan told the media on Monday.

In an interview to a weekly newsmagazine,Gafoor had alleged there was a “dearth of eagerness on the part of a handful of senior officers to be on the ground during those days”. Gafoor has since denied making those comments but that did not appear to have calmed the situation.

Mumbai Police Commissioner D Sivanandan dismissed reports of a “war” within the force. “There is no war or anything like that. The only war we had was against terrorists on November 26 last year when we had done a memorable job,” Sivanandan told reporters on Monday.

Leader of the Opposition Eknath Khadse alleged that the charges allegedly made by Gafoor against his juniors had “brought the honour of the state police force into the open” and said the factionalism between the senior police officers had increased with the blessings of the rulers.

“The factionalism between the senior police officers has seen a massive escalation recently. This factionalism is happening totally with the blessings and silent consent of the rulers,” Khadse said.

He said Gafoor’s reported statements would add to the sorrow of the people who had already been traumatised by the terror attacks. Khadse called on Home Minister R R Patil to reveal the report of the Ram Pradhan Committee that probed the attacks and the details of conversations,movements and participation in the action of the police,intelligence agencies and other government agencies during the attacks.

In a statement,former IPS officer Julio Ribeiro pointed out that like Sena chief Bal Thackeray who was on “soft ground” when he criticised Sachin Tendulkar for saying he was an Indian,Gafoor was “at a similar disadvantage when he criticises his own juniors,something a good leader should never do. It is almost like a carpenter blaming his own tools when his work is not appreciated. The four officers targeted by Gafoor are some of the most competent in the department.”