Headlines
Key Maharashtra Police post to combat terrorism downgraded
Mumbai, Jan 31
A key post created in the
Maharashtra Police to combat terrorism and the Maoist menace in the
state after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks was downgraded within four
months, an RTI query has revealed.
The post of Director-General
of Police - Special Operations (DGP-OS), was downgraded a notch to
Additional DGP-OS, according to the reply from the DGP office to the RTI
query by activist Anil V. Galgali.
"This inexplicable
degradation of such a sensitive post raises suspicions over the
government's commitment to tackling the terror and Maoist menace in the
state," Galgali told IANS.
The post - sixth in the rank of DGPs
in the state - was created after the Mumbai terror attacks and to
counter the Maoist menace in the eastern parts of the state, especially
Gadchiroli district.
"... the 26/11 terrorist attack and the ever
increasing activity of Naxalites on its borders warranted a need for
strengthening the police system," the DGP office said in its reply,
conceding the requirement.
It also said that coordination was
required to be established with the central forces and the bordering
states of Maharashtra to counter the increasing Maoist terror through
this new post.
After it was created, senior IPS officer Jayant Umranikar was appointed the first DGP-OS and he continued till Dec 31, 2009.
Later,
the post remained vacant for nearly two months and subsequently five
officers in that rank were appointed, mostly for brief tenures, Galgali
said.
The incumbents were Sanjeev Dayal (Feb 26, 2010 - May 31,
2010; after a gap of almost one year S.P. Gupta was appointed (May 27,
2011 - June 25, 2012), P.K. Jain (June 26, 2012 - Feb 28, 2014), and the
current incumbent Bipin Bihar (Nov 3, 2014 - till date).
The
government did not appoint a single officer of the rank of
Superintendent of Police (SP) as staff officer in the office till date
and the responsibilities are being shared by a senior clerk, a junior
office superintendent and two junior clerks.
Armed with the RTI
reply, Galgali has shot off a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
demanding upgradation of the sensitive post and appointment of capable
officers of the relevant ranks along with proper staff.
"Many a
times, it is seen that after any major crisis, the government shows
promptness, but eventually loses interest in its own decisions which
eventually erodes credibility among the people," Galgali observed.