Ujjain: Even as special investigation team (SIT), which was formed by the State government to look into the Ujjain’s hooch incident which claimed lives of at least 12 persons, is yet to submit its report—the tragedy has started showing its affect in terms of administrative changes which took place on Sunday.
SP and ASP (city) were shunted out with immediate effect while concerned CSP was suspended. Collector ordered to book 8 persons involved in preparing and selling illicit liquor under National Security Act (NSA). Whispers were also doing the round that axe may fall on some more key officers. On the other hand, Congress indicated to pursue the issue furthermore.
SIT MEETS CM
The three-member SIT headed by ACS, home Rajesh Rajora left for Bhopal late on Saturday and early on Sunday- the SIT held discussion over the issue with the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at latter’s bungalow.
Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains was present. CM while taking the verbal report submitted by Rajora ordered to shunt Ujjain SP Manoj Kumar Singh.
He directed to suspend Kharakuan area CSP Rajnish Kashyap. In the evening, ASP (city) Rupesh Kumar Dwivedi was also shunted out.
SIT will submit its detailed report on Monday. SP and ASP have been posted as AIG, Police Headquarters, Bhopal while CSP has been attached at the same place. Singh, who had earlier worked as CSP here was made SP in the first week of May after shifting the then SP Sachin Atulkar in wake of alleged lapses in tackling corona outbreak.
SHUKLA MADE NEW SP
State Police Service officer and 2009 batch IPS officer Satyendra Kumar has been made new Ujjain SP. Presently, he is posted as SP Shahdol. Basically a domicile of Rewa, Shukla had worked in Sagar, Satna, Jabalpur and Indore in different capacities. He is likely to join the office on Monday.
8 BOOKED UNDER ‘NSA’
Meanwhile, collector and district magistrate Asheesh Singh issued orders to book 8 persons under NSA and sent them at the Central Bhairavgarh Jail. The orders were issued in wake of their involvement in manufacturing illicit liquor, trade and related offences. Their names include Jitendra alias Jeetu Kahar, Ashok Kahar, Raju alias Mirchi Kahar, Jeevan Kahar (all Mahakal police station circle), Jujhar Singh (Khachrod), Sonu Bagri (Nagda), Bharat Singh (Tarana) and Gopal Bargunda (Unhel).
CONGRESS’ SIT-IN TODAY
During an urgent meeting called on Sunday at the Rajeev Bhavan, Ksheer Sagar, the District Congress Committee (DCCC) formulated its next course of action with regard to the hooch incident. DCC spokesman Vivek Soni alleged that the administration had been hiding the actual number of victims of the hooch incident as against its claim of 12 deaths in fact 25 to 30 persons have been died. Terming such hided deaths as due to other diseases the bodies were burnt without conducting post-mortem. Though SP and ASP were removed, but collector and municipal commissioner have been spared. No economic assistance has been given to the family members of the victims. To mount pressure on such issues, the DCC decided to stage a sit-in on Monday from 11 am at Gopal Mandir.
‘Remove DM & Municipal commissioner’
On the other hand, Congress MLA from Tarana Mahesh Parmar termed the suspension and transfer of low rung police, municipal and excise officials as well as transfer of SP and ASP as insufficient and a mere eyewash. He said that collector and municipal commissioner should be removed. He also reiterated his demand to provide compensation to the family members of victim persons and to institute a high level judicial enquiry into the hooch incident.
YADAV targets BJP MLA
In the mean time DCC (urban) acting president Vivek Yadav raised objection on the silence which the Ujjain North BJP MLA Paras Jain has kept over the entire episodes related to hooch incident. In a statement he alleged that despite death of more than 15 persons in his own constituency, Jain has only kept a mum but also got disappeared from the entire scene.
