BENGALURU : A letter written to the Karnataka police chief by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) recently about alleged harassment by senior officers has once again brought to the fore the harassment allegedly meted out to junior-rung staff by senior officials.It is known that policemen go through various ordeals on a daily basis. Adding to their woes, they don’t even get weekly offs properly, let alone any sort of leave.
Seniors denying them leave has become a common affair in the police department. While issues related to weekly offs and leaves are a major concern among the police personnel, ill-treatment and harassment in the name of discipline is another issue plaguing them. This, in turn, is hampering their morale and performance. And it tells on the quality of policing.“A circular was issued more than a year ago that weekly offs should be given to the staff compulsorily. But we are lucky if we get two weekly offs in a month. While staff in other police stations get weekly offs, we don’t get it regularly. It all depends on the inspector. Also, when we ask for leave, officers ask us to adjust with weekly offs,” said a police constable in the East division of Bengaluru.
A police sub-inspector, who has faced suspensions frequently, said, “I do not believe in the Grievance Cell as it is not helpful. Most officers appointed as ADGP-Grievances Cell do not know Kannada and the staff working there never forward our letters to the officers. I am really fed up with the situation.” A senior officer from the Grievance Cell said the DySP had not contacted them after sending the letter. “We have taken his allegation seriously and are looking into it. More than 20 citizens approach us every day to give complaints. Only few policemen come to share their problems and we consider each complaint as important. We don’t ignore any complaint submitted by anyone at anytime,” the officer claimed.
DGP MADE TO WAIT FOR AN HOUR
Forget the public, it is said that some officers don’t entertain even senior IPS officers. “An officer of the rank of DGP had recently gone to meet another DGP, who is senior to him, on an official visit. He had sent in his visiting card through the sentry but the senior did not bother to meet him for almost an hour. As he had sent the card, the DGP was not in a position to leave without meeting his senior. He waited for more than an hour and returned after meeting the senior for five minutes,” a senior officer said.
IPS OFFICERS VS THE REST
The general opinion of non-IPS officers is that IPS officers never let another IPS officer down, whatever the allegation may be. “If the complaint is against a non-IPS officer, action will be taken immediately. But if there is an allegation against an IPS officer, the file will bite the dust,” said a Karnataka State Police Service officer.
DYSP FAINTS AFTER SENIOR DENIES LEAVE
In an incident that occurred recently, it is learnt that a DySP working in the CID got admitted to a hospital for three days after he suffered from variation in blood pressure when a top ranking officer pulled him up. “The DySP had a function at home the next day and was granted leave. The previous day, a senior officer enquired with him about the progress in a case. Not satisfied with his reply, the officer asked him to bring the case files the next day. When the DySP informed him he had availed leave for that day, the officer lost his temper and scolded him, asking him to come to work cancelling his leave. The DySP fainted soon after he came out of the officer’s chamber,” a source in the CID said.