Officers gun for DGP

AHMEDABAD, Sept 30: In an unusual move, the IPS Association of Gujarat today conveyed to the Government its lack of confidence in Directo...

AHMEDABAD, Sept 30: In an unusual move, the IPS Association of Gujarat today conveyed to the Government its lack of confidence in Director General of Police C P Singh, saying he had 8220;let down the interests of the service8221; by his conduct in the issue of suspension of two officers after last week8217;s police firing in Surat.

The association also demanded the transfer of Surat Police Commissioner Kuldip Sharma, saying his continuance would be 8220;detrimental to the conduct of a free and fair judicial inquiry, as well as impartial investigation of the offences registered8221; in connection with the firing on the Ganeshotsava procession, which claimed seven lives.

A delegation, led by association president K Chakravarthi, called on Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel and submitted two memoranda over the suspensions of Additional Commissioner Vipul Vijoy and Deputy Commissioner Manoj Agarwal. Gujarat High Court has since stayed the suspension orders, but the State Government has challenged the court order.

The memorandum dealing with the DGP8217;s role accused him of taking 8220;a contradictory stand8221;. It said the DGP, during his visit to Surat, had congratulated the two officers for their commendable work in handling the situation, but he later submitted a report to the Government saying they had resorted to 8220;excess firing and that the matter could have been handled more tactfully8221;.

The memorandum stated: 8220;There is reason to believe that the report was given due to extraneous reasons, in spite of the fact that a judicial inquiry had already been ordered8221;. The two officers were 8220;sacrificed8221; on the basis of a hasty report, based on inadequate material, the memorandum said, and added that there was 8220;strong resentment8221; among members over the DGP8217;s role.

Regarding Kuldip Sharma, the memorandum said as chief of the police force in Surat 8220;he should bear responsibility for the incident8221;. The association 8220;strongly requested8221; the Chief Minister to transfer him from Surat in the interests of a fair inquiry and impartial investigation.

The second memorandum said the suspensions, which appeared to have been dictated by 8220;extraneous consideration/political compulsions8221;, had totally demoralised the police force and were bound to have an impact on the handling of law and order situation. Besides, the suspension of the two officers was also likely to prejudice judicial inquiry.

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The IPS association also expressed its unhappiness over cancellation of an appointment with the Chief Minister yesterday. 8220;The officers felt aggrieved that in a serious matter like this the association was not being given an audience with the Chief Minister,8221; the memorandum said.