Police constables wearing black bands in protest against alleged pay anomalies in some districts seem to have rattled the senior cops. They are now choosing to steer clear of the matter. They were unavailable for comment on Monday.
The unprecedented development has spawned serious discussion and debate among the police personnel, but no one was ready to speak a word.
Observers opined that police constables wearing black bands on their sleeves have managed to send their message effectively to the State Government and senior cops, leaving them bewildered.
When some reporters reached police headquarters to get senior cops' reaction they were conspicuous by their absence.As per sources, they were engaged in a meeting with the Chief Minister. Things were such that they did not receive phone calls from the media persons throughout Monday. Sources further revealed that DGP BS Sidhu had submitted a report to the State administration and Chief Minister that is supposed to dwell on means to thaw things.
A policeman said that the State Government had implemented the revised pay structure from January 2011, but writs were lodged in the High Court, demanding hiked pay with retrospective effect from 2006. The matter is now sub-judice with Uttarakhand Government having filed an appeal against the single bench court that had ruled in favour of the litigants.
CO Manoj Kumar Katliyal said that as per the direction of senior cops, policemen are being asked to desist from such protest. There was no effect of such protest in Dehradun, he claimed.
It should be mentioned here that DGP Sidhu had called an emergency meeting of senior police officials on Sunday to find out ways to resolve the matter. DPG Sidhu has directed the district police heads to counsel the protestors and to urge them to avoid such protests.