A deputy superintendent of police (Dy SP) has alleged harassment from a senior officer by writing to the state police chief Neelmani Raju. The letter is doing rounds in the police.
The officer, in the letter, stated that he tried to meet the state police chief several times to air his grievances but his efforts proved futile. So, he finally decided to write a detailed letter.
He stated that his 12-year-old daughter got an opportunity to represent a state team, which necessitated him to be with her for the nine-day training period. He applied for leave in advance, but the senior officer had not responded. So, the Dy SP orally informed the senior officer and took a day’s leave to drop off his daughter to the training camp. He reported for duty the following day.
However, the senior officer initiated action against him for taking leave without permission, saying it was akin to showing disrespect to the department.
But many other colleagues had taken leave without applying and no action has been initiated against them. This shows clear discrimination in the department, the letter said.
Recently, the government transferred an ACP to the Central Crime Branch, but the officer had not taken charge even after three months. Finally, he was sent back to his previous posting, the letter said.
"Unable to bear the harassment by senior officers, a few officials, including Dy SP M K Ganapathy and Dy SP Kallappa Handibag, had committed suicide, it said. It has been six months since new the DG&IG took charge, but she has not tried to hear the grievances of lower-rank officials in the department. It is our right to express our grievances and her responsibility to solve it," the letter said.
"Do not create an atmosphere like in 2013 where a constable at the Rajanukunte police station shot an inspector when he refused to grant leave. I asked your office staff that why you (Neelmani ) have not responded to any of my letters, they told him that you won’t read letters that come in the Kannada language. If this is the situation, how can we express our grievances," he questioned in the letter.
Leaked to the media
The officer had written to the DG&IG several times in the past. When he did not get any response, he wrote another letter on June 18 and sent a copy to the police grievances cell, from where it was leaked to the media.
DH contacted the DG&IG multiple times and also sent a message, but she was not available for comment.