Haryana IGP officer Hemant Kalson, who was posted as an election observer at Ariyalur in Tamil Nadu, was on Monday suspended by the Haryana Government for reportedly firing in the air from a constable’s gun.
The 2001 batch officer was sent on election duty in view of the April 18 Lok Sabha election in the southern state.
The incident reportedly took place on Sunday wherein the officer, suspected to be under the influence of alcohol, asked the constable posted there to give him the semi-automatic gun. He then started firing in the air on a road near the Circuit House at Ariyalur, where he had been staying.
Police said that the constable could not refuse when the observer asked for the gun as he was a high-ranked police officer.
“IPS Hemant Kalson, who is IGP/CTI, Home Guards, Panchkula has been placed under suspension with immediate effect,” stated a Haryana Government’s order.
“During suspension, his headquarters will be in the office of the DGP, Haryana, police headquarters at Panchkula,” the order said.
State Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo had in Chennai said that the officer was relieved from his duty as an observer and an FIR was registered against him after the incident.
According to reports, Hemant, after the firing incident, handed back the gun to the shocked constable before going back to his room and resumed his sleep as if nothing had happened.