JOIN US And the consequent suspension of the four police constables by the SP has created ripples in the law enforcing agency threatening to divide the men in uniform on the caste lines.
This is said to be the first of its kind case in the district. Although the cases of atrocities on dalits whether genuine or not are quite common in the district, what is shocking is that a SC police officer has taken umbrage under the controversial act against his own subordinates. It is feared that this may become a precedent in the police force with the apprehension of SC police officers liberally resorting to it to settle score with their subordinates.
Rajya Sabha member and senior BJP leader K B Shanappa is reported to have spoken to the SP and has expressed his shock and has reportedly told the SP that the PSI should not have been allowed to resort to the extreme step and the matters should have been settled amicably with due warning to the mischief makers.
The incident that took place in the police station premises in Wadi in Chittapur taluk on May 28 night when a quarrel broke out between the Crime PSI Shankar Jeevanagi and the four constables who were reportedly under the influence of alcohol.
One of the constables Khanderao, according to the PSI’s complaint, assaulted and abused him by his caste and the three others provoked Khanderao. On the following day the PSI lodged a complaint with the Wadi police against the four constables and subsequently FIRs were issued against them. The case has been booked under Section 3 (1) (x) of the Scheduled Caste/Tribe (Prevention of Atrocity) Act besides the other provisions of the Indian Penal Code. All the four constables were arrested and remanded to judicial custody.
This was followed by the suspension of the four constables of Wadi Police Station namely Khanderao, Venkatesh, Shivasharana, and Govind Reddy. In his order SP has said that they have been suspended on the charges of committing atrocity on the PSI by abusing him by his caste, preventing the government official from discharging his duties, and for criminally intimidating the PSI.