Ghaziabad: The murder of two senior Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) officials in Badaun has prompted the Ghaziabad administration to put in place a formal early-warning system to spot workplace tensions before they spiral into violence.Officials said the plan centres on joint meetings between the administration, police and representatives of organisations across the district twice a month, which will involve mandatory reporting of threats, extortion attempts and internal disputes that show signs of escalation.In a joint directive issued on Friday, district magistrate Ravindra Mander and police commissioner J Ravindra Goud said such conflicts can no longer be dismissed as “purely internal matters” once they begin to threaten public order, safety or essential services. Under the new mechanism, joint review meetings will be held on the first and third Thursday of every month.The administration has also constituted a committee and asked industrial units, hospitals, banks, trade bodies, resident welfare associations and unions to stay in regular touch with the authorities. Office-bearers have been told to immediately inform the nearest police station if there is tension, a dispute, or any sign related to threats, extortion or illegal monetary demands.Mander agreed that the Badaun shooting was a stark reminder of what can happen when warning signs are missed. “Incidents like the one in Badaun show how unresolved internal disputes can quickly turn into grave law-and-order situations. Organisations in Ghaziabad must share such concerns in time so that the administration can step in before matters worsen,” he added.The move follows the March 12 shooting at HPCL’s compressed biogas and ethanol plant in Badaun’s Senjani village, where deputy general manager Sudhir Gupta and assistant manager Harshit Mishra were shot dead inside the premises. Police said the accused, vendor Ajay Pratap Singh, allegedly entered the plant and opened fire at close range before fleeing.According to cops, Singh had been blacklisted and barred from entering the plant around eight months ago after complaints of indecent behaviour and threats to employees. Police officers in Badaun said he had a prior dispute with the officials and may have been driven by resentment after being removed as a vendor. Gupta had also reportedly complained earlier about receiving death threats, but timely action was not taken.The fallout was immediate. Two police personnel were suspended for inaction, the senior superintendent of police was transferred, and the chief minister ordered a special investigation team probe into the killings.Ghaziabad officials said the district’s new system is meant to ensure that such complaints do not languish unattended. Station house officers have been directed to act promptly on every input. The order makes clear that if a complaint is ignored or delayed and an untoward incident follows, responsibility will be fixed on the SHO or the official concerned, with disciplinary action, including suspension or termination, to be recommended.“Where possible, organisations have been advised to settle disputes through internal dialogue. If that fails, both sides may be called for a joint hearing or the matter may be taken up at forums such as janata darshan, thana diwas and udyog bandhu meetings,” an official said.
