IGP Ahmed open to any probe on shootout that killed Bande

His alleged role in January 8 shootout in Gulbarga, in which police sub-inspector Mallikarjun Bande and contract killer Munna Darbadar were killed, is under question

Inspector-General of Police (North-eastern Range) Mohammad Wazir Ahmed on Sunday said he was open to any probe on his alleged role in the January 8 shootout here in which police sub-inspector Mallikarjun Bande and contract killer Munna Darbadar were killed.

“I’m ready for an inquiry by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) or the Central Bureau of Investigation. I will prove my innocence… I know who are all behind the vilification campaign against me and I will not be cowed down by such baseless allegations,” Mr. Ahmed told presspersons here.

The State government has ordered an inquiry by the CID into the episode and charges against Mr. Ahmed.

Transferred?

There are reports that Mr. Ahmed has been transferred to Mysore.

“Although I’m happy that I will be going to my hometown [Mysore], what pains me is that I’m leaving this place under a cloud of suspicion and I have been targeted by my own officers against whom I had initiated disciplinary action for their misdeeds.”

Brushing aside the allegations of Mallamma, wife of Bande, that he had harassed the slain sub-inspector, the IGP said very rarely does a sub-inspector comes in contact with the IGP. “I can prove it in any court or [before] any inquiry commission that at no point of time I harassed Bande in any manner. In fact, I had protected Bande on more than one occasion when the higher-ups wanted to take action against him.”

Rubbishes claim

Mr. Ahmed said there was not even an iota of truth in the allegation levelled by a former BJP Minister that he had interfered to get a person arrested by Bande released. He said the allegation was baseless and politically motivated.

“The only crime I committed was to rush to the spot where the shootout was taking place… ask police officers, including Bande and [assistant sub-inspector] Udandappa, who were injured to wear bulletproof vests and helmets before entering the house where Darbadar was hiding, and shift Bande to hospital after the shootout and stay there till he was operated upon to ensure that he got the best available treatment,” Mr. Ahmed said.