Ujjain: The issue of alleged forced labour and harassment which the lower rung policemen usually face during their service is likely to figure during a divisional meeting of police department.
This meeting has been convened on Monday at 12 noon at Police Control Room in which home minister Bala Bacchan will review the law and order arrangements, besides taking stock of the crime incidents.
On the eve of home minister’s visit, a 5-minute audio based on the mobile conversation between a constable and the minister had gone viral.
The audio clip which went viral on Sunday allegedly featured Nand Kumar Chouhan, a police constable posted at Neemuch, who took retirement from services, and home minister Bala Bacchan.
The former looked perturbed over the question marks put on the police functioning. Perception being created among people that the police is not maintaining law and order properly in Madhya Pradesh, he said. According to him, the IPS officers are the main reason behind this situation as they are in large numbers in the state.
In the alleged conversation the ex-constable is heard claiming that IPS officers are on the priority of government which provides them police employees at their bungalows and offices.
There is a restriction of 4-5 employees on such positions, but officers deploy about 20 employees at their bungalows, he complained. Constables, who are recruited by the government, for field working, are forced to work at SP’s bungalows.
Then how we can expect compliance of law and order in proper manner, asked he. Chouhan further alleged: constables posted at police stations remain frustrated owing to excessive duty hours and if they respond improperly to their seniors they are meted out anti-disciplinary action and also initiate actions like suspension and termination which sometimes force them to commit suicide under depression.
Chouhan said, being deputy leader of opposition Bacchan raised such issues prominently and as he is now home minister they are expecting something positive and decisive action from his side, though unfortunately no such thing has been seen so far. “I left my job due to misuse of our services and misbehavior by the senior officials.
We have to pay heavy price if we complain against them and no superior authority takes any action against them,” he narrated.
“IPS officers force constables to carry their children to school to-and-fro…to accompany their wives to markets and gives us orders to do this and that…to give salute to their wives.
I have full evidences and I can produce them,” he concluded. Responding to his submission, the home minister said, “I will raise this issue during Ujjain range meeting convened on Monday and I will do it positively.”
