43 police transfers in 4 districts put on hold

GULBARGA: After transfer orders of 43 sub-inspectors were despatched, and a few of them even took charge at their new police stations, the entire process was put on hold in the North Eastern police range, apparently on orders from local MLAs.A top-level officer of the state police told Express on condition of anonymity that some MLAs of Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur and Koppal districts met another senior police officer on June 15 and pressurised him to ask the superintendents of police of these districts to hold up the list of transfers of sub-inspectors.Buckling under pressure, the senior officer informed the SPs of the four districts not to implement the transfer orders.The senior officer said that North East Range IGP Gagandeep summoned the subinspector of his range on June 14 and transferred them after counselling after they were given a choice of three police stations.Based on their choice, a transfer list was prepared and sent to SPs of the districts with instructions to issue transfer orders.According to the information received, transfers of 43 PSIs were made during the counselling session on June 14 and sub-inspectors, especially those who were retiring at a police station of their choice, were happy to assume their new postings.Some inspectors told Express that they were happy that neither money nor pressure played a part during the counselling.On June 15 some of SPs dispatched transfer orders of sub-inspectors. In some cases, sub-inspectors proceeded to their new police stations and assumed charge on Thursday morning. However, on Friday, SPs of all the four districts received instructions to hold the transfer list till it was cleared by the DG’s office.It is customary for counselling of transfers of subinspectors to take place in the Inspector General’s office and based on the instructions of the IG, SPs would issue transfer orders.The sub-inspectors said they were in a dilemma whether to contact MLAs or higher-ups as they said it was evident that politicians had interfered in the transfers.When contacted, Sedam Congress MLA Sharanaprakash Patil alleged that transfers were held up not just in these four districts but across the state on the oral instructions from the DGP. He said this was illegal and the party would approach the court.A BJP MLA who did not wanted to be named said local MLAs need to be consulted before transfers are made. He said Home Minister R Ashok had asked the transfers to be put on hold since the Chief Minister was away and would discuss with him and sort out the issue.However, Ashok told Express that the government had not stalled transfers but was reviewing just two cases in Gulbarga for want of clarifications.