Karnik transferred,Solunkhe rural SP

Superintendent of Police Sandeep Karnik,in-charge of security during the Maval agitation on August 9 in which three farmers died in police firing,was on Tuesday transferred to Mumbai by the state home department.

Superintendent of Police (Pune rural) Sandeep Karnik,in-charge of security during the Maval agitation on August 9 in which three farmers died in police firing,was on Tuesday transferred to Mumbai by the state home department. Karnik will be replaced by IPS officer Shahaji Solunkhe,who is currently the Superintendent of Police (Aurangabad rural).

Karnik had written a letter to the Maharashtra Director General of Police Ajit Parasnis on August 23,seeking a transfer from the Pune rural posting.

According to sources,Karnik sought the transfer on the grounds that he did not want people to misconstrue his continuance in the post as an obstacle to the probe ordered in the Maval firing. Karnik is Parasniss son-in-law.

When contacted,Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Umesh Chandra Sarangi confirmed Karniks posting saying,He has been transferred to Mumbai city as Deputy Commissioner of Police. The Mumbai Police Commissioner will assign him a specific post now.

Eight farmers have been arrested so far for attacking policemen. Following the firing,Karnik suspended six constables,and the home department subsequently suspended a police inspector and a sub-inspector who were caught on video firing on fleeing protesters.

A private criminal complaint has also been filed by a social activist in a local magistrates court,seeking trial for Karnik and other policemen. The complaint also asks for the case to be transferred to the CBI. The court will pass its order on September 5.

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