Amid differences of opinion between IPS and IAS lobby in Haryana over the role of Panchkula Deputy Commissioner Gauri Prashar Joshi when the violence broke out in Panchkula on August 25, the state DGP BS Sandhu on Wednesday said that there is no differences between the civil and police administration and both acted in a coordinated manner to deal with the emergency situation,

While a section of officers appreciated her role and claimed that she was herself injured during the riots but stayed at the spot to issue necessary directions, some police officers claimed that the DC Panchkula had left the spot when the dera sect followers turned violent.

There were also reports that some police officers had complained to the higher authority against the DC for leaving the spot during the emergency situation.

DGP BS Sandhu, while talking to The Pioneer said that there is no difference of opinion between the civil and police administration against the IAS officer Gauri Prashar.

During the sensitive situation at Panchkula, both civil and police administration worked in a coordinated manner to handle the situation rightly. It was only because of our coordinated approach that we managed to crackdown on the mob and control the violence within three hours, said Sandhu.

When asked whether he has received any complaint against Gauri Prashar from police personnel, he said that I have not received any written complaint against her.

This all is social media hype… There is complete harmony between IPS and IAS officers, added the DGP. On the other hand, DC Gauri Prashar said that I have already given my version and everything is on the record.

A controversy is made unnecessarily on the entire issue, said the Panchkula DC, while talking to The Pioneer.

I did what could be done to manage the situation on that day. The mob had outnumbered the security forces and I had to move away to order to call in the army to handle the situation, she said when asked whether she fled away from the spot during the riots.

On allegations of some police personnel that she was nowhere to give instructions for firing during riots, the DC added that as a government official, it is not right for me to comment on the statements given by others. 

Notably, chaos had reigned in Haryana’s Panchkula district on last Friday as followers of Dera Sacha Sauda sect went on a rampage leading to the death of atleast 30 people and more than 260 injured after a CBI special court had convicted self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the rape case.

The deaths took place in firing by security forces on the enraged Dera followers, who ran amok setting on fire government and private property as well as vehicles in Panchkula.  In all, 53 vehicles were burnt in Panchkula during the incidents of arson and violence by dera

followers.