A circular was reportedly issued which says top cops will only brief the press
K J George. (Photo: DC/File)
Bengaluru: Stung by the media expose of the rot in the police department following the recent incidents, which highlight the malaise in the uniformed force, the Home Minister has reportedly issued a diktat to the police officers to stay away from media and not indulge in loose talk.
A circular was reportedly issued on Monday by Home Minister K.J. George in which he has stated that only the Director General & Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of City Police would brief the press in formal meetings on important department-related issues and on progress in investigation in sensational crimes. The diktat reportedly restricts the city top cop also from interacting with the press without prior permission of the DG&IGP, who is also the Head of Police Force (HoPF) in the state.
A senior officer, on condition of anonymity, told Deccan Chronicle that a series of incidents involving police officials that have been highlighted in the media, especially the visual media, have not only damaged the already poor public image of the police force, but also created a lot of controversy because often incorrect information is leaked to the media by fellow officials. "In January this year, an inspector and constables attached to the HAL police were suspended for allegedly demanding and accepting bribe of ' 3 lakh from a theft accused.
This was followed by the Mysore bus dacoity case at Yelwala in which police officials were allegedly involved and then came the infamous 'clickgate' controversy in which Additional Director General of Police P. Ravindranath was reportedly involved. In July, the city police arrested a man, who they later said was not involved in the alleged sexual assault of a minor girl in Vibgyor High School and now we have the shameful incident in which a cab driver Pradeep committed suicide after he was allegedly illegally detained and tortured by the Kempegowda Nagar police.
The station cops even reportedly demanded a bribe from his family for his release from the illegal custody," said the officer. "The Chief Minister has also expressed serious concern about the easy access of media to police officials in sensitive cases and the leakage of classified information in the press," added another officer.
( Source : dc )
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