Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Mar 12: At a time when the state government has been trying its best to maintain the standing and hold sway in the face of criticisms by opposition parties and faux pass committed by their own party functionaries, the government is now feeling the heat of revolt by IPS officers. The revolt is happening at a time when the government is preparing to face the assembly election.

The opposition parties have been claiming that the functioning style of the chief minister and other ministers have been demoralizing police officers and that criminals are not fearing police officers anymore. Now, police officers too are of the opinion that the political leaders have been hijacking probe into important cases and thus demoralizing the police force. In trasfers too they do not follow the rules, which in turn, results in failure of police in discharging their duties, they say.

Karnataka IPS Officers Association chief, Dr Rajvir Pratap Sharma, who is the additional director general of police, has written to the government's chief secretary, K Ratna Prabha, on March 8, asking her to convene a meeting soon to restore the respect Karnataka police commanded in the past.

The transfer rule that has been reduced to one year has not been of any help as police officers do not find time to establish and acquaint themselves properly. In several cases, police are being punished for discharging their duties. The letter dated March 8 written by Singh also appears to strengthen the notion about political interference in handling of recent Nalapad attack case.

There is a feeling that investigations were hijacked by politicos in certain cases and there is suspicion of interference in cases pertaining to deputy superintendent of police, Ganpaati and IAS officer, D K Ravi, etc. In Ganapati case, minister, George had been named. Some of the persons accused of attacking government officials and police officers are seen in the company of political leaders in public. During the last four and half years, six officers were posted to the post of Bengaluru commissioner. Police are being t reated as last in the chain of system maintenance, continuity and trust. The letter mentions that the police do not seem to be discharigng their duties properly.

The letter appears to refer to attack by goondas in the office premises of IAS officer, Rashmi at Mysuru. She had to wait for hours to register first information report. A politician had prepared to burn government ofice by pouring petrol. Spots like Lokayukta office are witnessing attacks.