HS, IGP dig in their heals

CHANDIGARH, MAY 17: Both the UT Home Secretary Anuradha Gupta and IGP Kiran Bedi are reportedly preparing their cases and gathering docum...

CHANDIGARH, MAY 17: Both the UT Home Secretary Anuradha Gupta and IGP Kiran Bedi are reportedly preparing their cases and gathering documents to support their contentions. Gupta, say sources, is planning to take up with the Union Home Ministry the issue of the IGP mustering public support in her favour.

Two days ago, a section of the gathering had openly raised slogans in favour of Bedi and against the Home Department. The occasion was the meeting of the IGP and other police officers with the representatives of cityAtilde;shy;s residents welfare associations. Bedi had tried to pacify the angry gathering.

On the other hand, Bedi too is trying to sift through a mass of mail, including many anonymous letters, over the UT Home DepartmentAtilde;shy;s alleged interference in police functioning. She is also gathering evidence on senior police officials having been bypassed in recent months.

Meanwhile, UT Adviser Vineeta Rai, when contacted, confirmed that she had met the Administrator, Lt. Gen. B.K.N. Chhiber retd, today but refused to comment on the ongoing controversy between the HS and the IGP.

As Chhibber is going to Delhi tomorrow morning, sources said that he might discuss the issue with the senior officials there. His visit was earlier scheduled for Sunday but it had to be postponed at the last minute, the sources added.

Senior officials of the Union Home Ministry in New Delhi are reportedly awaiting the report of the Administrator on the ongoing row before they order an inquiry to examine the whole gamut of issues, according to highly placed sources.

In a related development, former city mayor Gian Chand Gupta condemned the quot;acrimonyquot; between the Chandigarh Administration and the city police and called upon the UT Administrator to put an end to it by initiating firm action as per the law.

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In a statement issued here today, Gupta said that though it is within the powers of the IGP to transfer the police officials, if the police force lacks in action, the Government/Administration is authorised to intervene in the public interest.

Meanwhile, the four police officials out of five who were suspended by the Home Department a few days ago, continue to be on leave. While DSP Subhash Sagar is reportedly away to Delhi, DSP D.S. Thakur has gone to Shimla.