Cops given ‘dummy’ posts to hoodwink EC

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, October 24

A compliance report pertaining to the shifting of policemen, who have either completed their tenure or are posted in their home districts, ahead of the elections seems to be a mere eyewash.

While the report sent to the Election Commission says that all such policemen have been shifted, in reality they have been “adjusted by creating new posts as per the wish of their political bosses”.

SSP-level officers have reportedly created “dummy” posts that do not come under the ambit of the Election Commission’s guidelines, reveal documents in possession of The Tribune.

Considered close to local SAD and BJP leaders, several SHO and DSP-level officers have been asked to continue in their respective areas, but on newly created posts so as to “hoodwink” EC guidelines.

Sources say that this has been done on the verbal orders of ruling party leaders in order to allegedly misuse the official machinery during the elections. In Sangrur district, for instance, SHO-level officers who have served there for several years have been “adjusted against posts that never existed”.

Senior police officers confirmed that certain SHO-level officers, considered close to local Akali leaders, have been transferred as per the EC directions, but they are posted in Sangrur itself against posts in computer cell, cyber cell, special branch, police training school, control room, criminal tracking network system etc.

“All these posts have been created to ensure that these officers continue to work for their political bosses within the district,” alleged AAP leaders Kanwar Sandhu and Sukhpal Khaira.

“We ask the DGP to explain the role of these officers in the same district on such dummy posts,” they said. Efforts to contact Sangrur SSP Pritpal Thind proved futile. IG (Headquarters) RN Dhoke said if such postings had been made, a compliance report would be sought. "We will implement EC's directions in letter and spirit. We won't allow such postings," he said.