SP ‘cowardness’ was on display: Jhajjar DC

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 5

While she faced the mob in Jhajjar, the SP remained seated with IPS officer KK Rao in the secretariat during February’s Jat agitation, Deputy Commissioner Anita Yadav has submitted in her report to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in connection with the law and order situation during the stir.

 Instructions issued to the cops to shift ammunition from police stations to Police Lines were nothing but an act of “cowardness” on part of the then SP of Jhajjar, she stated.

In the report placed before the Bench of Justices SS Saron and Gurmit Singh, Yadav said all chowkis and police stations were told to shift asla (ammunition) and wireless sets, along with the staff, to the Police Lines.

Yadav said the position regarding the availability of the force was “pitiable” due to the shifting of local police to Rohtak. The Jhajjar SP was directed by the Inspector General of Police, Rohtak Range, to reach Rohtak with the maximum force. Accordingly, the SP proceeded to Rohtak despite her denial. “It is a fact that the undersigned, in the capacity of a District Magistrate, can only order to take necessary steps to maintain law and order, but the implementation of the order was to be carried out by the police/force. For providing the same, I made repeated requests to all my seniors through emails, letters and telephonic calls, but no response was received till the evening of February 20.”

Yadav said after the force became available, she, along with the SP, ADC and the SDM, faced the mob in the city until the situation was brought under control. She said, “At that very time, the Jhajjar SP left the campaign in between and remained seated with KK Rao, IPS, IGP, at the secretariat.” Yadav said the fact could be verified using the location of mobile phones of the Jhajjar SP and IGP KK Rao. Incidentally, the SP was shifted after the incident.