SRPF jawans suspended

VADODARA, Sept 9: More than three months after two senior police officials were roughed up by unruly jawans of the State Reserve Police F...

VADODARA, Sept 9: More than three months after two senior police officials were roughed up by unruly jawans of the State Reserve Police Force SRPF in Nadiad, police authorities have suspended 23 SRP personnel alleged to have been involved in the incident.

On May 4, a mob of SRP jawans gheroed and roughed up Additional Director General S Banerjee and District Superintendent of Police, Kheda, B D Vaghela who were on a visit to an SRP camp of Group 7 in Nadiad. The irate jawans were upset over the decision to shift the camp from Nadiad to Kheda. They even deflated tyres and smashed window screens of the officials8217; vehicles.

Director General of Police C P Singh told Express Newsline that the 23 SRP personnel, who had been named in the FIR filed at Nadiad police station on May 7, were suspended on Tuesday following a departmental inquiry. 8220;The probe has revealed they were involved in the incident and, hence, we have suspended them,8221; the DGP said, adding the suspension orders were issued by Banerjee.

Singh said authorities had decided to take such a stern step to curb the indiscipline that had crept into the force. Official sources added that chargesheets had also been served on the suspended personnel.

8220;Questions were being raised about discipline in the force after the incident. It was necessary to carry out an indepth probe to pin those involved,8221; a senior officer involved in the probe said.

To begin with, sources said, the Nadiad police, which registered an FIR, identified the main accused in the case and subsequently began gathering substantial evidence to support their findings. Officials said the Sub- Divisional Police Officer SDPO, Girish Singhal, who was in-charge of the probe constantly monitored progress in the case.

Sources said though about 100 SRP jawans, including some recruits, had gheroed the senior officials, action was taken against only 23 jawans as they had not played a role in the violence, but also instigated the jawans to smash the window screens of the officials8217; cars. The officials carrying out the probe are also said to have examined allegations that the jawans were briefed8217; by some local politicians prior to the arrival of Banerjee and Vaghela at the camp.