NEW DELHI: The All-India Non-Gazetted Policemen’s Federation an unrecognized union consisting of police constables and Inspectors has come in handy ‘to get the heat off the backs of police officers and men involved in the 1984 riots.

Bogged down by compulsions of Police rules which prohibits trade unionism the police personnel charge sheeted for their alleged involvement in the 1984 riots have turned to this voluntary organization to save their skins.

Most of these men are members claimed the Secretary General of the Federation Mahender Singh Adil. As a matter of fact thousands of Delhi police personnel had registered as members of the Federation he added

Faced with the prospect of prosecution the concerned police officials are annoyed with the Prime Minister at whose instance the cases against these officials are progressing. Their reasoning: he was the Home Minister when charges were registered against them.

But this talk is restricted within the confines of the Police Headquarters. Since MPs officers cannot raise these issues publicly the Federation has come in handy.

The All India Non-gazetted Policemen Federation set up in 1979 to serve as a grievance cell for policemen has threatened to go to court if an enquiry is not conducted immediately.

It has alleged that Rao had failed to perform his duties as a Home Minister and he ought to have put in his papers an account of the Home Ministry’s lapses.

The Federation raises pertinent questions regarding Rao’s role during the bloody week.

What instructions had he issued to the police officers when the carnage began?

How can the blame be fixed on the Delhi Police when the army had been deployed on November 1 in central and south district and subsequently throughout the city on November 2? Moreover under Section 130/31 of the Criminal Procedure Code the civil authorities automatically assumed a secondary and assisting role.

On the eve of the riots the total strength of the Delhi Police was 22000.

Out of this 18000 had to perform law and order duties take care of VIP security while controlling the riots at the same time. On the other hand 35000 troops had been deployed only for controlling the riots. Despite this deployment the carnage went on for a number of days.

The federation which recently took up cudgels on behalf of 400 striking Haryana policemen claimed it had clinching evidence on the involvement of some army officers. –

“We will use it when required” Adil said

Interestingly the federation has drawn the attention of the Intelligence Bureau which according to Adil censors all the federation’s mail besides taking office bearers.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 1, 1992