Khanduri faces Oppn heat for cop transfer

The transfer of a police inspector, who arrested the newly-elected Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad president and four other student leaders for damaging public property on Friday night, has snowballed into a major political embarrassment ...

The transfer of a police inspector, who arrested the newly-elected Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad ABVP president and four other student leaders for damaging public property on Friday night, has snowballed into a major political embarrassment for Chief Minister Maj Gen B C Khanduri retd, who is contesting the Dhumakot by-election to be held on August 29.

Mahender Singh Negi, inspector of Kotwali police station, arrested the ABVP president and four student leaders and booked them under various offences when, after winning the elections in the local DAV College, they attacked hotels, petrol pumps and destroyed other public property during a victory procession.

However, Umesh Aggarwal, a close aide of the Chief Minister, put pressure on the police to release the arrested students on Saturday.

Bowing to political pressure, senior officials on Sunday blamed Negi of alleged 8216;dereliction of duty8217; and transferred him to police lines.

Criticising the decision, the Opposition parties said that the action against Negi was unwarranted. 8220;We would take up the issue to expose the fascist face of the BJP Government. This is a blot on Khanduri, who has projected himself as a disciplinarian and strict administrator,8221; said Harish Rawat, Uttarakhand Congress president.

Suryakant Dhasmana, president of the state unit of the Nationalist Congress Party NCP, said that the punishment to the police officer is rather unfortunate. 8220;This will embolden criminals in the ruling party and demoralise the police force,8221; he said.

Meanwhile, state BJP spokesperson Devender Bhasin said that the action against the police inspector was justified since he overstepped his responsibilities.