The Hindu : National : Dismissal of policemen, political vendetta: SP

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Thursday, Sep 13, 2007
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Dismissal of policemen, political vendetta: SP

Atiq Khan

LUCKNOW: With the likelihood of the dismissal of around 6,500 police and PAC constables in Uttar Pradesh assuming the form of a legal battle, the Samajwadi Party on Wednesday indicated its willingness to provide legal assistance to the aggrieved. However, the party made it clear that it would give legal help to the genuine cases and to those penalised because they belonged to a particular caste.

The party accused the Chief Minister Mayawati of political vendetta.

A record number of 6,504 constables were dismissed from service and an unprecedented 12 IPS officers were placed under suspension by the Government on Tuesday following alleged irregularities in the recruitment in 2005-2006.

The Samajwadi Party’s view was articulated by its MP and former Advocate General of the State, Virendra Bhatia. He dismissed allegations of foul play in the selection process and said the recruitment had passed judicial scrutiny. Mr. Bhatia said some petitions were filed in the Allahabad High Court and its Bench of Judicature at Lucknow in 2005-2006.

The Court found that the recruitment process was in accordance with the rules, he claimed.

Mr. Bhatia told a press conference here that the report of the inquiry committee was ‘manipulated’ at the behest of the Chief Minister. He recalled while campaigning for the Bahujan Samaj Party during the Assembly elections, Ms. Mayawati had said that she would annul the appointment of constables made during the Mulayam Singh regime.

He charged the BSP Government with creating animosity towards members of a particular caste (Yadavs) and slammed the suspension of the police officers. He said most of the officers have an unblemished record and the action taken would have a demoralising effect on the force.

The SP has questioned the probe being conducted by a senior IPS officer, himself involved in the recruitment process in 2005-2006. Mr. Bhatia wanted to know if anomalies were detected in the recruitment of constables why did the officer who was the IG, PAC, in 2005-2006 not submit a report to the Government. Some affected IPS officers have doubted the authenticity of the probe panel findings.

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