Jaipur: Rajasthan Police Tuesday suspended Bharatpur’s Weir SHO Dhirendra Singh and placed Additional SP Prerna Shekhawat on the Awaiting Posting Orders (APO) list, two days after former BJP MLA Attar Singh Bhadana (68) died following an assault linked to a mining dispute.The action followed a law-and-order review chaired by chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, who said misconduct by a few personnel had tarnished the police force’s image and credibility.Six other personnel were placed on APO, while two additional SPs were removed from their current postings over separate incidents and complaints across the state.Those placed on APO included CO, Bhusawar, Neeraj Bhardwaj; Deputy SP (Traffic), Ajmer, Anju Yadav; CO, Sambhar, Mukesh Joshi; CO, Sriganganagar, Vishnu Kumar Khatri; and police inspector, Jaipur Commissionerate, Mukesh Kharadiya. Bharatpur Additional SP Prerna Shekhawat was also placed on APO.Additional SP, SIUCAW, Jaipur Rural, Brijmohan Meena, and Additional SP, Khairthal, Jaya Singh, were removed from their current positions.Sources linked the action against the Weir SHO and Bharatpur ASP to Bhadana’s death. Joshi faced action following complaints over an altercation between an RSS functionary and Naraina police personnel on Sept 10. The Naraina SHO and other personnel were removed the following day. Yadav faced criticism after a video allegedly showing her slapping a lawyer circulated, while Kharadiya was placed on APO following allegations of custodial death.Sharma said the govt had taken a strict view of police negligence and misconduct and directed the immediate removal of the personnel concerned, followed by disciplinary action under the rules. He also directed officials to prepare district-wise lists of mining and land disputes, draw up plans to resolve them, and review criminal cases, including those involving alleged police misconduct.“No matter who the criminal is, no one will be spared under any circumstances,” Sharma said.After the meeting, DGP Sharma directed officers to maintain continuous vigilance in their jurisdictions and take prompt action in sensitive situations. He reiterated that negligence in maintaining law and order would not be tolerated.
