The combined effect of sympathetic gesture from the Chief Minister and the police top brass’s crackdown on the dissenters seem to have squeezed life out of the police constables’ stir demanding correction of the pay anomalies. The dissenting cops threatened to bring their family members out on Parade Ground to put further pressure on the State Government on August 31. But no one turned up. The presence of the police personnel to keep order during the threatened stir was noticeable. SP City, Circle officers, inspectors, sub-inspectors and dozens of policemen deployed there heaved sighs of relief after the agitating policemen and their relatives chose not to act on the threat. However, police have arrested some Uttarakhand Kranti Dal activists who rallied in support of protesting police constables in the city on Monday.
Police sources revealed that the senior cops asking two days ago their juniors working at all the police stations to give written undertakings to the effect that neither their family members nor their acquaintances would take part in the threatened stir of August 31 and September 2 has had its effect.
With action being taken some agitating police constable, the senior cops were relaxed in the confidence that it would have its desired effect. However, they made it a point to be informed of the developments from time to time. The Parade Ground was sealed with the deployment of police forces. Policemen were seen making rounds the parade ground to stop any stir from taking place.
Notably, state police had suspended two policemen in Haridwar and this aside, arrested three persons, including a policeman, now on medical leave, under IT Act and Police forces (restriction of rights) Act, 1966. Two police station in-charges- inspector and sub- inspector were reverted to police line as they were found unaware of the stir going on in their jurisdiction in Haridwar district. According to senior police officers, these police in-charges should have informed the district police headquarters and state police headquarters about police constables carrying on stir.
Based on intelligence report and evidences collected from various social networking, departmental action has been sought against 10 policemen, including seven in Kumaon division. Around 100 policemen have been sent advisory directing them to desist from any kind of protest and warning of stern action if they indulged in it, said state director general of police BS Sidhu.
Sidhu said that the district police officers have directed the district police heads to lodge FIRs under above-mentioned laws against unidentified police personnel engaged in spreading rumours over police protesting against pay anomalies on social media and other such sites.