Jharkhand Administrative Service Association (JHASA) called off its three-day strike on Friday and urged officials to go back to their jobs from Saturday after the Government ordered formation of three-member team to probe the alleged trapping of Barkattha CO by local wing of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on November 14 on bribery charges.
The government has directed team members comprising Welfare Department Secretary Himani Pandey, Labour, Employment and Training Department Secretary Amitabh Kaushal and ADG (Police Headquarter) PRK Naidu to file their reports within three days.
In a joint letter written to all its district unit presidents and secretaries on Friday, JHASA president Denial Kandulana and general secretary Yatindra Prasad have asked officials concerned to join their respective offices from Saturday in the wake of Government agreeing to various demands of the Association, including SOP formation for ACB trapping exercise.
The government has agreed on three demands raised by the association. A letter issued by Personnel department Principal Secretary Nidhi Khare to JHASA president and general secretary stated that the State government has taken cognizance of the issues raised by the Association and was taking some steps. It further stated that the Cabinet Coordination department has formed a three-member panel, which has been asked to probe the alleged forceful trapping case and submit a report within three days.
Also, the department has ordered to carry on trapping exercise by the ACB with a regular magistrate, and the personnel department has asked Hazaribagh DC and SP to probe alleged misbehavior by Barkattha Officer in-charge and Barhi DSP against JHASA officials of Hazaribagh unit. In the light of the decisions and action, the Principal Secretary urged the JHASA officials to call off the three-day strike and join their duties.
On Friday, over 700 State Services officers remained on strike affecting governance and day to day work of the government machinery in the State. The JHASA members took the step in the wake of alleged forceful trapping of a Circle Officer and misbehaviour by DSP and OC in Hazaribagh district.
Barkattha CO Manoj Tiwari in Hazaribagh district was allegedly forcefully trapped and arrested by ACB on November 14. The Association has stated that Tiwari was trapped and framed in utterly inappropriate ways and was harassed, insulted and beaten by ACB officials without his guilt constitutionally proved.
Earlier, on Thursday evening, CS Rajbala Verma met JHASA officials and assured to take appropriate action on their charter of demands. The Police Association of Hazaribagh, meanwhile, is up in arms against JHASA and has threatened to go on strike if any action is initiated against the police inspector and DSP.