Section of police deserted posts, 'were on leave' during Jat agitation: Report

Probe panel finds instances of policemen ignoring orders and blatantly supporting the stir, which saw violence in February, The Indian Express reports

A section of police belonging to the Jat community in Haryana had deserted their posts and ignored orders during the violent agitation that took place in the state in February, The Indian Express reported on Monday. 

The fact-finding probe panel, led by Prakash Singh, found that 60-70 policemen had deserted their posts in each district when mobs went berserk by burning shops and houses. Maximum of the deserters were in the worst-affected Jhajjar and Rohtak districts.

In fact, the desertions were seen as the reason behind state government’s move to seek help of the paramilitary forces and the Army, senior officials told the newspaper. 

The panel, which comprises Additional Chief Secretary Vijay Vardhan and new DGP KP Singh, apart from Prakash Singh, has made a list of these policemen with their details like names, rank,, belt numbers and the days for which they remained absent from their posts. It is set to recommend strict action against them which could lead to their dismissal.  

How it happened? 

Nearly 3,000 witnesses were examined by the panel, which recorded their statements in camera and in writing. 

It was found by the panel that many policemen simply refused to obey orders and openly showed solidarity with the members of their community.

Interestingly, there were instances when personnel were absent from their posts for six-seven days. Later, many of these missing policemen had rejoined their posts, as if they had simply taken a leave, the Express reported.

Haryana had witnessed violence during the agitation by the Jat community who were seeking a quota. During the days that the state suffered, shops were burnt and houses were set on fire. In fact, protestors had broken the gates of Munak Canal, which supplies water to New Delhi, thereby hampering the supply in the national capital.