A reality check carried out on the direction of Director General of Police OP Singh to find out whether necessary security measures are taken while taking the undertrials for hearing in the court and later bringing them back to jails has exposed the gross negligent approach of the local officers.
The exercise revealed that in some places the undertrials were not in police vehicles and in some places the cops were missing. Besides, the arms and ammunition carried for security of the prisoners were either outdated or not in proper working condition.
DGP OP Singh had directed that two gazetted officers in each district would conduct surprise checks of the vehicles carrying undertrials from jail to court for hearing. This exercise was ordered for reality check in the wake of sensational incident in Muzaffarnagar and later in Sambhal in which hardened criminals opened fire at police party and managed to escape.
In both the incidents, the criminals attacked the police party on their way to court for trial and in Sambhal, two constables were killed.
Reports said that the reality check carried out last Saturday opened the eyes of the senior officers who noticed that the entire system was working at God’s mercy. Sources said that in Barabanki, the checking revealed that 90 prisoners were bundled in one police van like animals to take them to court. As there was no space in the van, the cops deployed for security of prisoners were travelling in private vehicles behind the van.
Many lock-ups in court where prisoners are kept on reaching court premises were found to be in dilapidated state and the doors were in such condition that they could be removed by a strong push. Many vans, in which the prisoners were taken to court did not have locks.
The sources further said that the weapons carried by the police personnel were also found to be improper. Like in Sambhal, where two constables were killed by the undertrials before they fled from police custody, the checking showed that the constable on duty was carrying a pistol but it was not loaded. In Moradabad, three police constables deployed for prisoners’ security during transit were found to be missing from their duties.
In many of the police vehicles used to ferry prisoners, the team found that they did not have GPS system. The checking revealed that in 25 districts of the state, necessary security measures were not in place.
The sources said that after this checking, the DGP issued fresh advisory to all zonal ADGs, range IGs and district police chiefs, directing them to take all necessary measures while carrying prisoners for trial and bringing them back to jail.
OP Singh also asked officials to identify undertrials who could flee from police custody so that special security measures could be taken while taking them for trial.
He directed the district officials to ensure that all such criminals were handcuffed during transit period and taken on vehicles fitted with GPS system so that senior officers could monitor the location of the vehicles.
He also asked district officials to equip the police vans with close circuit televisions (CCTVs) so that entire transit period could be monitored by control room.