Five IPS Officers Who Took Part in Mamata’s Dharna to Lose Medals

A number of measures are being considered to be initiated against the officers.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during her sit-in protest against the Centre over CBI’s attempt to question the Kolkata Police commissioner.

(Photo: PTI)

Trouble is brewing for five IPS officers in West Bengal as the Centre has taken a dim view of serving officers of uniformed forces taking part in sitting protest or dharna.

With respect to the officers who had participated in the protest in Kolkata on 4 February, the Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the West Bengal government to take action as per The All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968.

The officers had taken part in a dharna with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on 4 February, as a protest against the CBI’s move on arresting the Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar to question him in the Saradha chit fund case.

The five officers under the scanner, apart from Kumar are DGP Virendra, ADG Vineet Kumar, ADG Law and Order Anuj Sharma, CP Gyanwant Singh and Additional CP Supratim Sarkar.

In addition, a number of measures are also being considered to be initiated against the officers, such as withdrawing medal or decoration conferred on them for meritorious service.

The centre may also remove names of the officers from the empanelled list and bar them for a certain period from serving in the central government, reported The Hindu. An advisory to all states to ensure that officers of uniformed forces adhere to the conduct rules and maintain decorum may also be issued.

(With inputs from The Hindu.)