Figures released by the Delhi police show that there has been a sharp decline in the number of complaints received against those in the Delhi Police's own ranks in 2016 compared to the previous year. That, however, did not prevent 616 policemen from the 80,000-strong force from facing disciplinary and criminal actions.
Vigilance inquiries
As many as 109 were dismissed from service following Vigilance inquiries. The list of 616 —including 36 inspectors, 87 SIs, 43 Assistant SIs, 138 Head Constables, 347 Constables — were placed under suspension for various “commissions and omissions” in 2016, said the Delhi Police’s annual report.
Major punishments
The report added that 437 police personnel were awarded “major” punishments, including 109 dismissals while another 129 police personnel were censured by the Delhi Police, it said.
The vigilance wing, which keeps an eye on the conduct of the personnel, was headed by the current Commissioner Amulya Patnaik who, even after becoming the administration Special Commisisoner, had the charge of vigilance as an extra responsibility.
Over 2000 complaints
A total of 2,335 complaints were received by the Vigilance department of the Delhi Police against its personnel in 2015. There was a dip last year when this number fell to 1,178 in 2016, the report showed.
Delhi Police spokesperson Dependra Pathak said the numbers improved because “swift” punitive action was taken wherever the complaints merited them and “prompt” inquiries were conducted in the first place.
Abetting suicide
Besides vigilance inquiries, there were several other instances when the blot on Khaki was impossible to ignore. From abetting the suicide of a woman to a mass molestation complaint against one single inspector, several cases were reported.
None perhaps was as significant as the one which was reported towards the end of the year when the satff members, including the Station House Officer of Adarsh Nagar police station, dumped the body of a man who allegedly committed suicide in the police station in a bid to save themselves.
