Bihar DGP's missive on better policing leads to war of words

The NDA government in Bihar on Friday drew flak from the opposition over a missive issued by the state police chief wherein he had expressed the need for steps to improve "public perception" about the force.

In the communication issued earlier this week, Director General of Police K S Dwivedi had expressed dissatisfaction over lack of adequate thrust on prevention of crimes in districts and directed respective SSPs/SPs to take remedial measures. He had also expressed displeasure over instructions for better policing, issued in the past, going unheeded.

Reacting to the episode, leader of the opposition in the state assembly Tejashwi Yadav tweeted "the Bihar DGP has questioned functioning and working style of his own police".

The RJD leader, who is a former Deputy CM, also targeted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who holds the Home portfolio and alleged "police stations are being auctioned to highest bidders" - alluding to corruption in transfers and postings.

Senior Congress leader Prem Chandra Mishra said "the tone of the DGP's letter to district police chiefs indicates a sense of helplessness on his part. Such an officer does not deserve to be in the chair".

The ruling JD(U)-BJP combine, however, rubbished the opposition's allegations, claiming the DGP's gesture was "positive".

"If the man heading the state police is taking such an active interest in day-to-day functioning of the department, it is a positive response and deserves to be appreciated", BJP spokesman Nikhil Anand said.

JD(U) spokesman and MLC Neeraj Kumar hit back at the RJD blaming the spurt in crime in the recent past on "patronage to criminals" by the opposition party.

"Its MLA Raj Ballabh Yadav got disqualified from the assembly following conviction in rape case and yet the party has not shown the decency to expel him from the party", the JD(U) leader said.