THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day after his removal as state police chief, T.P. Senkumar on Tuesday publicly expressed his displeasure over the government’s decision by going on leave. Mr Senkumar is exploring legal options to challenge the decision, which according to him, was violative of Supreme Court directive on minimum tenure of two years for state police chiefs and similar provisions entailed in Kerala Police Act.
DGP intelligence A. Hemachadran has been given the additional charge of SPC till Loknath Behera takes over. The government had not issued the order on the new postings late on Monday night. “The CM has already signed the relevant files. Issuing the order is only a technical exercise to be carried by bureaucrats. It is as good as done,” said a senior official hinting that there may not be any rethink on the part of the government.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who is also holding the home portfolio, said he would react on the issue later. Mr Senkumar who has been posted as Kerala Police Housing and Cons-truction Corporation, has proceeded on three days leave. When asked whether he would take up his new assignment, the DGP said, “I have not received the official order yet.”
N. Shankar Reddy who was shifted out as vigilance director, is also awaiting fresh posting. Earlier, Mr Senkumar’s emotional outburst before media persons indicated that the decision had jolted him. “Each government has got its own policy. They have preferred officers. What I can say is that Mr Senkumar is not Loknath Behra. A government which desires Loknath Behra cannot go with Senkumar. If you (government) don’t like a person then it could have been conveyed in a decent manner.”
“They could have said our wavelength is not yours. We have a suitable person. In any case I cannot become Behra that is my problem. Senkumar can be Senkumar, Behra can be Behra.” Mr Senkumar said he worked 16 to 18 hours to sort out seniority issues and other staff issues. “I don’t have any Club, other activities, five star dinners. I work, I go home. For the last few days I tried to play badminton with Vinson Paul and some other friends,” he added.
On whether he would take up his new assignment, the DGP said he had not received the official order yet. While the government is yet to comment on the reasons behind the decision, going by a section of CPM leaders there were series of issues including mishandling of Jisha murder case, solar case and lack of monitoring in Puttingal which led to a humungous tragedy killing 114 persons in temple fire.
Senkumar said; “I was state police chief for one year. I could do many things. You may come to know if you ask about the internal matters in police department. Seniority issues since 1984 and 1996. We have prepared the seniority list of most. Throughout my service I have maintained this. I don’t know whether you remember, when the new government came in 2011, I was the transport commissioner. I continued in the post for eight to nine months. That is not a issue. I don’t have the character of jumping or crossing over because of a government change. As far as I am concerned, I have certain principles and I have worked accordingly. The public here know. I am born and brought in up in the state.
Barring brief external posting, as an officer I am very happy. I have put on my Facebook; I have never asked any subordinate officer to do anything illegal, never allowed arrest of innocent persons and pad up evidences and I have always resisted illegitimate interferences. “There is nothing more I can do about that thing. Hundreds of women called me up to seek help, we don’t publish these things, give it to media. I have helped hundreds of people and I am happy," he added.
