A handbook containing broad guidelines to the people and the police on dealing with private civic matters is being prepared and will be released in November, Inspector-General of Police, South Coastal Region, P.V. Sunil Kumar, has said.
“This book will have Standard Operating Procedures on how to deal with private cases, not covered wholly under existing police sections, such as issues over ownership of property, love, and family disputes. It will have a manual suggesting right action in such issues. People have a tendency to approach the police to solve these issues in ‘grey areas’ out of ignorance,” Mr. Sunil Kumar told The Hindu on Tuesday.
The IGP’s decision comes in the wake of a series of disciplinary actions he has initiated against police inspectors found involved in settling civic issues.
Ever since the property values have been shooting in Guntur, Ongole, and Nellore towns, instances of police officers getting involved and acting in a manner suiting interests of one petitioner have been on the rise. In recent instances, Station House Inspector of Pattabhipuram Durga Prasad had been suspended on charges of inaction in maintaining status quo of a disputed site. Similarly, four Sub Inspectors of Police had been suspended on charges of abetting anti-social elements.
Two police constables and a senior assistant too had been suspended.
The IGP said the book would also contain details of various sections under the CrPC and the IPC, Evidence Act, Civic Laws, Land Records, and added it would be in public domain soon.
Ever since Mr. Sunil Kumar has taken charge as IGP in May 2013, he began cracking the whip against errant officers. The IG has initiated 67 oral enquiries and served orders in 17 of them, while initiating 10 minor enquiries and disposing five of them.
