Senior officials of Patna police in line of fire for revolt by trainees

PATNA: Some senior officials of Patna police have come in line of fire after inquiry by Patna zonal IG Nayyar Hasnain Khan in the revolt by trainee constables consisting mostly women, which took place in and outside police lines after death of one of their colleagues Savita Pathak (22) on November 2.

Sources said Khan submitted his inquiry report to state government at late in the night on Thursday and has made recommendations for action against few officials for the entire rampage in which the trainees had attempted to lynch police lines DSP Mohammad Mashluddin allegedly for denying leave to Pathak.

However, none cleared names of officials against whom IG has raised question in his inquiry report as they failed to address issues of police lines. Sources said that axe might fall on officers after Chhatth.

Altogether 175 constables including 167 trainees were dismissed from service on November 4, two days after the rampage.

More than hundreds of trainee constables, went on rampage after Pathak’s death due to dengue. Pathak was deployed on duty near Kargil Chowk for traffic regulation amid high fever and was allegedly not granted leave following which she died in a private hospital at Boring Road on wee hours of November 2.

Hours after her death, trainees went on rampage and damaged more than 24 vehicles inside the premises. They also ransacked office and residence of Mashluddin and manhandled his wife and daughter. Later, they also attacked SPs’ of central, east and rural Patna who had reached the spot to control the situation. Bodyguards of SP (rural) even had open fire in air to safeguard him.

Sources said IG, in his inquiry, has found several major lapses in the management of police lines by senior officials.

“In his report, Khan has also made recommendation to state government for action against some of the officers holding them responsible for the rampage,” sources said.

However, when asked, Khan said that neither he will deny nor comment on issue as the report has been submitted to headquarters and now its state government’s call to take decision on his report.

“Some parts of my report, which is a confidential one, has come out in public domain somehow which should not had happened. Now it’s on wisdom of government to take decision on my report,” he said.

Meanwhile, Khan also sought a clarification from SP (traffic) PN Mishra for holding a press conference clarifying that trainees were granted leave without any denial. “The presser was held while the inquiry was going on. Mishra even had not sought permission for addressing media on the issue,” Khan added.