Home guards stage flash stir against 'corrupt' higher-ups

Bribe demand to allot job, delay in salary irk home guards

Home guards staged a flash stir in front of District Commandant’s Office at Saraswathipuram here on Wednesday.

The agitators alleged that the higher-ups demand bribe to allot work and also threaten to sack them from job, if they failed to grease their palms. Though the salary is fixed at Rs 9,750 per month, not many have got salary on time, as the salaries are delayed, they alleged.

‘Ineligibles’
The protest was triggered, when the home guards visited the commandant’s office to get information on location and division of the work. They were irked after seeing the names of candidates, whom they consider as ineligibles, on the notice board. They questioned unit officers and failed to get proper response, forcing them to stage a protest.

At present, nearly 850 home guards are working under Mysuru Police Commissionerate serving in different units like Law and Order, Traffic, besides Central Prisons and Tourist spots as security guards.

As per norms, every personnel should be shifted from one division to another every quarterly period. It happens smoothly, when the authorities demand for bribe is fulfilled, they alleged.

Additional SP Kala Krishnaswamy, who also holds the additional charge of district commandant, visited the agitators and assured a detailed investigation on allegations.

Offender gained job
The agitators also alleged that a person, who was booked under the charge of theft in KR Police station in 2006 for lifting a gas cylinder, is now appointed as a home guard.
However, Commandant Kala Krishnaswamy denied giving job to any such person.