DIG Ashish Kumar Singh under scanner for not reliving Bada Bazar police station IIC

Berhampur: A case of gross indiscipline and insubordination has come to light as an Inspector in-charge (IIC) of the Berhampur police district has defied the transfer order of the State Police Headquarters and even the subsequent reminder.

The State Police Establishment Board on February 3, 2018 transferred a large number of Inspector in-charge, Sub-Inspectors (SIs) and Assistant SIs, including the controversial Bada Bazar Police Station IIC Suresh Kumar Tripathy. The transferred officers were directed to relinquish the existing charges and join their new assignments at the earliest. Defying the order, Tripathy along with 56 officers did not join.

Later, on April 23, 2018, a reminder was issued by the IG (Personnel) PS Ransipe to all the Range DIGs, SPs, and all other concerned authorities to relive the transferred officials by April 30.

Complying with the order, some DIGs and SPs relieved the officers under their jurisdiction. However, thanks to blessings of Southern Range DIG Ashish Kumar Singh, Tripathy is still continuing at the Bada Bazar police station.

Though the reminder clearly mentioned that adverse view will be taken of the performance of the controlling officer by Director General Police (DGP) Dr Rajendra Prasad Sharma, but the warning has no impact either on the DIG or on the IIC.

The ATR investigation revealed that the controversial IIC Suresh Kumar Tripathy was involved in many anti-police activities. Tripathy was reprimanded by the then Sambalpur SP Debadutta Dingh in 2006-07 for when he allegedly took himself to a safe position despite leading an anti-Maoist operation putting the life of other security personnel in risk.

The investigation further revealed that betting, gambling rackets continue to rule the roost in Bada Bazar area. There is no significant development in controlling the criminal elements. However, despite all this fact the continuance of Tripathy at the Bada Bazar police station even after transfer order has raised eyebrows.

Though DGP Dr Sharma earlier assured the ATR to look into the matter, but nothing tangible has happened as yet.

Today, despite repeated attempts to reach the DGP and IG (Personnel), the ATR failed to obtain a reply from the two top cops.