Suspension incident shows govt machinery in poor light

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 25

A day after the Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur, had to invoke his powers as head of the criminal administration to suspend a head constable, laxity on the part of the police officials surfaced further.

The incident in which the head constable of Sadar Police Station allegedly misbehaved publicly with ADC Iqbal Singh Sandhu was even videographed. Copies of this video, which were reportedly handed over to the police, have even gone viral.

The administrative officers kept waiting for action from the police and noting their lax attitude, urged Deputy Commissioner Vipul Ujwal to use his special powers and place the head constable under suspension. An officer posted in Hoshiarpur said delay by the cops was reflecting badly and leading to the undermining of their position and sending out a wrong message.

The DC then reportedly informed Principal Secretary, Home, NS Kalsi of the matter before and took his permission before passing the orders. The use of special powers by the DC has been much appreciated by the PCS lobby in the state as they said that it was after the days of militancy that an administrative officer had used his powers and asserted his position.

Meanwhile, the police lobby continues to side by Hoshiarpur SSP Harcharan Singh Bhullar. DIG, Jalandhar, Rajinder Singh said, “The SSP told me he had already ordered an inquiry by the DSP and suspended the head constable by then.”

The incident occurred on the morning of March 22 when ADC Iqbal Singh Sandhu was on his way to his office in his personal car without a beacon. The ADC was taking a right turn from a traffic light point when the cop, a little behind on his bike, bumped into him and gave a mouthful to the official.

The ADC lodged a complaint with the SSP the same day and waited for two days for action to be taken. A magisterial inquiry has been initiated into the matter by the SDM, Hoshiarpur.