Three days after members of the Navanirman Krushak Sangathan obstructed the passage of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s convoy leaving the City Police red-faced, Commissionerate of Police placed an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Capital Police Station under suspension while recommending departmental action against a Traffic Inspector.
PC Rana, an ASI of Capital Police Station, was suspended for dereliction of duty. He was assigned the task of keeping a watch on AG Square, IG Park and neighbourhood area with a section of police force. However, the Sangathan members assembled near Soochana Bhawan and took the police by surprise. Rana, official sources said, was found wanting in providing necessary information to the cops about the protestors that led to the situation.
Similarly, Traffic Inspector Ranjan Mallick was in charge of the route lining for the CM’s convoy. While the incident took place a stone’s throw away from the Commissionerrate Traffic Police Station office, there cops had no clue about it. Police Commissioner Dr RP Sharma, sources said, has recommended to Director General of Police Prakash Mishra for initiating departmental action against Mallick.
Following the incident, the Police Commissioner had assured that action would be taken against those found at fault.
While the action is timely, it has not addressed the real issue of basic intelligence collection by the City Police.
“Since the organisation had been open in its intention to breach law and has done so in the past, Bhubaneswar Police could have pressed in a couple of officers to keep a watch on their movements. It was failure of basic intelligence collection,” said an officer requesting anonymity.