A year after several states sent their IPS officers to curtail & investigate the violence in Manipur, Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh governments have decided to replace their officers. On August 3rd, 2023, the Supreme Court appointed former deputy National Security Advisor (NSA) and former Mumbai Police Commissioner Dattatray Padsalgikar, to monitor a CBI probe into the instances of sexual violence in Manipur.
The discussion to recall the IPS officers started when some of them, on SP rank, got promoted as Deputy Inspection of General of Police (DIG) in January while some had requested their concerned chiefs to call them back.
A credible source when approached by a renowned daily, stated, “All the IPS officers, who got promoted had made request before Padsalgikar to send them back to their home cadre, who in turn reportedly sent a letter to the Director, CBI, and MHA, mentioning the current situation of Manipur and suggested a rotation policy of all the officers of SITs. In the SITs, there are all the police personnel of Manipur police and rather than working on the cases, they are busy in law and order duty. Padsalgikar has reportedly mentioned about the current law and order situation and how it is affecting the daily work of the SIT.”
The home states of the officers, however, have sent the communication regarding their return and replacement. “Following the directions of SC, the Union Home Ministry had directed all the States/UTs to nominate their officers for the SITs. Later, IPS and local cadre officers from Rajasthan, Orissa, Delhi, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana were sent to Manipur as “token officers” to head the SITs of cases, probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and also the Manipur police. Some of the token officers had reported to the CBI and others to Manipur police,” stated the source.
IPS K Jayanta Singh, posted as IG (admin) Manipur police in his order on September 6th, issued on behalf of DGP, Manipur police, stated, “IPS officers; Alok Kumar and Rajeev Kumar Mishra, MP Cadre who were reported to DGP of Manipur in compliance of the judgement of the Hon’ble Supreme Court August 7, 2023 passed to assist SITs constituted in connection with the ongoing crisis in Manipur are relieved from their duties as their replacements; Ramsharan Prajapati, and Sushil Ranjan Singh, IPS officers have reported to this office. They should report back to their parent cadre immediately. This has a reference to Home Department, Madhya Pradesh order, dated August 22 this year of Director General of Police, MP.“
In one of the communications sent to the Chief Secretary of Manipur, the additional CS of Haryana, Home Department, wrote, “I am directed to the refer Government of India, MHA letter dated August 16, 2023, to say that Surinder Pal Singh, a 2010-batch IPS officer of Haryana cadre, had been deputed/deployed from Haryana police department, under the supervision of Dattatray Padsalgikar, former DGP, Maharashtra for investigation of FIRs in connection with the Manipur violence, as per directions issued by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, vide their judgement on August 7, 2023.” The statement continued, “Now as per the request of the officer, and in terms of promotion of the officer to the rank of DIG vide Haryana government order February 1, 2024, Rajender Kumar Meena, a 2011-batch IPS officer of same cadre, SP (Commando), Newal, Karnal, is hereby deputed/deployed for the said duty in place of Singh. Therefore, Singh is recalled back from Manipur to home cadre; Haryana.“
Also, two officers; Punjab and Madhya Pradesh have not got promoted, but they have been also called back by their concerned DGPs. “I am directed to refer to the subject cited above and to Shubham Aggarwal, a 2018-batch officer of Punjab cadre, had been deputed/deployed from Punjab police department, under the supervision of Padsalgikar, for investigation of FIRs connection with the Manipur violence, as per directions issued by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, vide their judgement. The officer had reported for the said duty on November 23, 2023. Now as per the request of the officer and recommendations of DGP, Punjab, Aditya S. War, a 2020-batch IPS officer, ADCP Investigation, Jalandhar is hereby deputed/deployed for said duty in place of Aggarwal,” said Mr. Amarbir Singh, Joint Secretary in the Home Affairs and Justice Department in his letter to the CS, Manipur on June 21st.
In his letter, Sandeep Kerketta, deputy secretary in Madhya Pradesh on August 22, said, “Three IPS officers from Madhya Pradesh were sent and one of them, Ashutosh Bagri, an IPS officer of 2015 batch was stationed in the CBI headquarters in Delhi. On the request of Bagri, the State government is taking him from the CBI headquarters and sending in place of him, Vaishnav Sharma, a 2012-batch IPS officer.”
