Junior threatens Bihar Police chief

Patna: Not only the common man, but even a senior Bihar Police officer is scared of the men in khaki.

Additional Director General of Police Anand Shankar, of the Crime Investigation Department (CID), in a letter to state police chief Ashish Ranjan Sinha, has said that "senior police officers would be beaten up by their subordinates inside their chambers if the Bihar Police Association (BPA) and its office-bearers are not reined in".

Shankar expressed his apprehension after he had to transfer some constables allegedly under pressure from BPA President Jitendra Narain Singh on September 18.

While recommending the dissolution of the body, Shankar pointed out in the letter, which was received by Sinha on Tuesday, that the association's members raise "petty issues and threaten to create law and order problems if their demands are not conceded".

"I have considered all aspects before writing this letter. In fact, I have waited for long before writing the letter since a senior police officer had assured me that Singh was willing to apologise. But this did not happen," Shankar said.

"In fact, the subsequent action of the office-bearers was more abrasive and instead of apologising, Singh started spreading canards against me," Shankar said.

Expressing surprise at the state police headquarters silence on an earlier incident in which Singh allegedly misbehaved with a commandant of Bihar Military Police, Shankar said "it is unpleasant".

Referring to the incident that occurred inside his chamber on September 18, Shankar said a BPA delegation led by Singh met him when the SP (anti-dacoity) was also present and inquired about progress on a petition for transferring some constables that he had submitted on September 8 as well as other personal issues.

"When I sought to know whether the association could raise personal issues, Singh started shouting at the top of his voice and paid no heed to my request to maintain restraint and said it was his normal pitch," he said.

"I have never seen a constable behaving in such a manner in my 31 years of service as an IPS officer."

In his letter, Shankar mentioned that the association's members never wore police uniforms or did law and order duty.

"There are at least 40 such policemen who get paid for no work and such a situation is not good for police's health."

The office-bearers of the association even used beacons on their vehicles, he said, demanding action against them.

When contacted, police chief Sinha confirmed that he had received Shankar's letter and would order a probe.

A copy of the letter was also received by state Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah, who apprised the chief minister about it, officials said.

Shankar, in his letter, also demanded a probe into the assets of "bad cops".