Amit Bathla

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 6

Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij conducted a surprise inspection at the Sector 5 police station today, “raising eyebrows of policemen on duty”. From scrutinising records, inquiring about the action taken on FIRs and reprimanding policemen for a defunct toilet, Vij sought accountability for nearly every task at the police station.

Expressing anger over “no order” in the operation of the police station, Vij did not hesitate to say that he felt like suspending every policeman at the police station.

During the inspection, he came down heavily on the SHO, Inspector Lalit Kumar, for his failure to act on complaints and maintenance of the police station and later ordered his suspension.

Three other policemen — Sub-Inspector Mandeep, exemptee Head Constable Dimple and Constable Ajay Kumar — were also placed under suspension.

He also found that maintenance of records was not up to the mark and complaints were not being converted into FIRs. No policeman was deployed on sentry duty during his visit.

Also, there was no entry record of arrival/departure of all enrolled police officers.

“It’s a first-of-its-kind police station where no cop is deployed on sentry duty. Anyone can check in, loot and go without any scrutiny,” Vij said while speaking to mediapersons.

Vij also sought an action taken report on all FIRs filed in the past one month at the police station. Besides, he ordered the police to file an FIR against a complainant, who, after levelling serious charges such as kidnapping and torture, reached a compromise with the suspect. “We can’t allow anyone to waste the time of the police,” he said.

Commissioner of Police Saurabh Singh and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mohit Handa were also present during the inspection. He directed senior officials to ensure timely registration of FIRs in pending complaints.

Fake currency case

While checking random files, Vij came across a fake currency complaint submitted by a bank in which the police apparently did not take any action and register an FIR. He also found counterfeit currency notes in the complaint file.

“They (police officials) didn’t investigate who’s circulating fake currency. What is its source? There can’t be a bigger offence than this in the country,’’ he said.

Sources in the police, however, claimed that as per the RBI, at least five or more pieces of counterfeit currency should be detected by the bank in a single transaction and further submitted to the local police authorities for the registration of an FIR.

“In this particular case, the number of counterfeit notes submitted to the police was less than five. Hence, they didn’t register an FIR,” they said.

Finally, FIR registered

After Vij’s action, the police registered an FIR in the fake currency case under Sections 489 A (counterfeiting currency notes or bank notes) and 489 B (using as genuine, forged or counterfeit currency notes or bank notes) of the IPC.

Comes down heavily on SHO in Panchkula

• From scrutinising records, inquiring about the action taken on FIRs and reprimanding policemen for a defunct toilet, Vij sought accountability for nearly every task at the Panchkula police station.
• During the inspection, he came down heavily on the SHO, Inspector Lalit Kumar, for his failure to act on complaints and maintenance of the police station and later ordered his suspension.
• Three other policemen — Sub-Inspector Mandeep, exemptee Head Constable Dimple and Constable Ajay Kumar — were also placed under suspension.

Why no action in Home Guards case?

• Asking why no action had been taken in the Home Guards case, he directed the police to take immediate action in the FIR filed against the woman officer.
• “Are you waiting for him (jawan) to take the extreme step,” he said.
• The Home Guards jawan had attempted suicide on July 29 after alleging mental harassment by senior officials for stopping the car of the woman officer at Majri Chowk on July 17.