Controversial top cop attached to police HQ without charge

Bastar's controversial Inspector- General SRP Kalluri, who was allowed by the Chhattisgarh government to proceed on long leave, was attached with the Police Headquarters (PHQ) here without being given any charge, senior officials said.
The government has attached the senior IPS officer with the PHQ, but he has not been given any charge as yet, they said.
The 1994-batch officer had last week applied for 90-day leave and received consent for the same from the government. However, instead of availing leave, he requested the DGP for a fresh posting and was subsequently sent to PHQ, the officials said.
Last week, 2003-batch IPS officer Sundarraj P was appointed Deputy Inspector General of Police in Bastar amid speculation that Kalluri is being shifted out of the tribal- dominated region, which is a Naxal hotbed.

Kalluri, who has often run into controversies as part of his anti-Naxal operations and style of functioning in the insurgency-hit region, yesterday sent messages on social media about his request for a new assignment.
In his messages, the IPS officer said he has come to Bastar district headquarters Jagdalpur and requested Director General of Police A N Upadhyaya for a fresh posting.

Talking to PTI, Kalluri had earlier said he is in good health and will discharge his duties in all earnest wherever he is posted.
Kalluri has been facing criticism for alleged fake encounters and targeting local journalists, social and human rights activists.

The district police also faced heat recently over the alleged threat to social activist Bela Bhatia, who was asked by a group of men to leave Bastar.
The government was under pressure from human rights group and Opposition Congress to shift the controversial IPS officer out of Bastar.