LUCKNOW: The police have virtually risen in revolt in Pilibhit following the transfer of the police superintendent ordered by the chief minister to ensure an impartial judicial inquiry to be conducted by a sitting judge of the high court into the alleged killings of 10 Sikh youths in fake encounters.

The situation has taken an ugly turn with police personnel deserting the posts depositing their arms holding demonstrations and demanding cancellation of the transfer.

Although a Home Department press release stated that the issue had been resolved and policemen had returned to their duties after they were assured by senior officers including R.D. Tripathi that the police superintendent had not been punished the Director-General of Police Prakash Singh and Inspector-General of Police (Intelligence) Tripuresh Tripathi made an air dash to Pilibhit at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday to defuse the situation.

The markets in Pilibhit also remained closed on the deal of the Udyog Myapar Mandal to protest against the transfer of the police superintendent However a spokesman of the Home Department stated that the police had nothing to do with the closure of the markets which was at the behest of the traders themselves.

Sula khan Singh Commandant of the 24th battalion of the PAC Meerut has been posted at the new SP Of Pilibhit in place of R.D.Tripathi whose posting is yet to be made.

A Home department press release admitted that resentment among the police personnel of Pilibhit was manifested following the govt order on the transfer of the SP R.D.Tripathi on Tuesday evening. Policemen reached the residence of the district magistrate on Tuesday night and demanded that Tripathi should not be transferred since he is doing a good job in dealing with terrorism. The police again assembled on Wednesday morning and raised the same demand in the Police lines. However senior officers prevailed upon them that the transfer did not involve any punishment or was there any intention to punish him and no action would be taken against anybody before receipt of the report of the judicial commission the press release added. However unofficial reports that the situation was explosive that the agitating policemen were relenting but insisting on the reconciliation of the transfer orders.

Article extracted from this publication >> August 2, 1991