The suicide by Additional SP of Anti-Terrorists Squad (ATS), Rajesh Sahni took a curious turn on Thursday, when one of his junior officers , an Inspector in the ATS, resigned holding senior officers reponsible for Sahni’s tragic death and other malpractices in the elite force.
In a letter sent to DGP, OP Singh late on Wednesday, Inspector Yatindra Sharma said that he was resigning from the department over harassment by senior officials including IG (ATS) and his blue-eyed officers and blatant financial irreguralities.
“When an honest and dedicated officer like Rajesh Sahni could meet such fate, then there is no reason to continue as a police officer for me,” asserted Sharma, a 2001 batch UP Police sub-inspector.
Sharma also alleged that senior ATS officers including IG (ATS) Aseem Arun, were neck deep in corruption and harassment of junior officials was commonplace at ATS.
Sharma, who was conferred a Presidents Medal for distinguished services, was promoted last year and has been working at ATS headquarters in lucknow.
An emotional Sharma blamed IG (ATS) Aseem Arun and his favourite officers for harassing Sahni, forcing him to take the extreme step.
Asking the DGP to accept his resignation, Sharma demanded a high-level probe into Sahni’s death. He also penned that after the letter was delivered, if something happened to him or his family, then IG (ATS) be held directly responsible.
Sharma also uploaded the resignation letter on social media sites to expose the wrong doings in the ATS and how juniors were feeling suffocated to work under undue pressure of their seniors.
Soon after, senior bureaucrats briefed the Chief Minister to shift Aseem Arun and other ATS officers to some other place till the probe concluded. The common refrain was that no one should blame the government for not conducting an impartial probe.
Earlier on Wednesday night, CM Yogi Adityanath announced to get the case probed by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after officers of Provincial Police Services (PPS) Association demanded a probe by an independent agency.
Sharma’s resignation only buttressed charges by some UP Police officers that Sahni ended his life as he was being forced to overlook irregularities in purchases of arms and ammunitions in ATS and expansion of infrastructure.
Meanwhile, a delegation of PPS Officers Association met DGP, OP Singh on Thursday and demanded immediate disbursal of compensation of Rs 1 crore to Sahni’s family. They also announced that contribution of Rs 5000 by each Additional SP and Rs 3000 by each Deputy SP of UP Police will be made at the personal level to the family. Ironically, nor the DGP nor any IPS officer has come forward with any relief for Sahni’s family.