Kunda murders: HC rejects pleas of transferred policemen

The Allahabad High Court today dismissed pleas of 88 police personnel objecting to their en masse transfer in the wake of murder of Kunda DSP Zia-ul-Haque and two others.
In its judgement, Justice V K Shukla said there was "no evidence to show that the transfers were illegal or effected with malice".
On April 3, the state government had transferred the entire staff of four police stations of Kunda sub division on CBI's request, which apprehended that "some policemen were close to influential people and could affect the probe".
The Judge, however, added that those policemen who felt inconvenienced at their current places of posting could approach the Inspector General of Police (Establishment) and the DGP Headquarters and their representations be decided "within two months".

Over 100 policemen were transferred out of the district and the petitioners had alleged that this was done at the instance of controversial Independent MLA and former cabinet minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya, who has been named an accused in the murder case and whose close aides have been arrested by the CBI in connection with the murder of Zia ul Haq.
The state government had opposed the petitions on the ground that the transfer order was passed on the basis of a "recommendation from the CBI" which is investigating the matter and that "no stigma" was attached to any of the transferred police personnel.