Chhattisgarh cancels cop recruitment in Rajnandgaon; SIT to probe fraud charges
Rajnandgaon (PTI): The Chhattisgarh government has cancelled the process of recruitment of police constables in Rajnandgaon district amid allegations of irregularities and set up an SIT for a probe into it, an official said.
State Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who holds the home portfolio, gave an order to this effect on Wednesday afternoon, he said.
"Irregularities came to light in the ongoing recruitment process in the 8th battalion of Rajnandgaon and a case was registered in this connection at Lal Bagh police station on December 17," the official said.
Since November 16, candidates from Rajnandgaon, Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai, Kabirdham (Kawardha) and Mohla-Manpur-Ambagadh Chowki districts have been participating in the recruitment process here, he said.
The police have so far arrested seven persons -- four police constables, two employees of the event management company and one female candidate -- in connection with the alleged irregularities in the recruitment process, the official said.
During the investigation in the case, constable Anil Ratnakar allegedly committed suicide. A note written with a pen was found on his left palm, which stated employees were being targeted in alleged irregularities in recruitment and officers were being protected, he said.
Rajnandgaon (Range) Inspector General of Police Deepak Jha has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for a probe into Ratnakar's suicide and sought a report in 10 days, he said.
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg has handed over the investigation of the alleged irregularities in the recruitment process to the Rajnandgaon City Superintendent of Police Pushpendra Nayak, the official said.
Garg on Wednesday said the order to cancel the recruitment process for District Police Force Constable Cadre Selection Examination 2023-24 has not been received from the state government so far.
Former chief minister and assembly speaker Raman Singh welcomed the state government's decision to cancel the recruitment process.
"Today, on the occasion of Good Governance Day, under the leadership of Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri @vishnudsai, Home Minister Shri @vijaysharmacg took a commendable decision to cancel the entire recruitment by taking immediate cognizance of the Rajnandgaon Police Recruitment case," Singh said on X.
The CM has directed formation of an SIT for an impartial investigation into the entire matter, he said.
"No kind of negligence or corruption will be tolerated in this government of good governance," Singh added.
During the recruitment process, the marks obtained by many candidates in the physical efficiency process were tampered, an official said.
"This irregularity was revealed in the investigation by the internal team of Rajnandgaon police, after which an FIR was registered at the Lal Bagh police station in the city," he said.
After this, the body of constable Anil Ratnakar, who was posted on marshal duty in the recruitment process, was found hanging in Rampur village on December 21.
Ratnakar had written a note on his hand, stating the officers on duty in the recruitment process have implicated the employees, the official said.
The opposition Congress has been attacking the state BJP government led by CM Vishnu Deo Sai on the issue of irregularities in the recruitment process.
State Congress president Deepak Baij and former CM Bhupesh Baghel earlier demanded cancellation of the recruitment process and action against the culprits.
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Prime organiser of Messi event in Kolkata arrested over ‘mismanagement’ after stadium chaos
Kolkata (PTI): The police on Saturday arrested Satadru Datta, the prime organiser of the Lionel Messi football event at Salt Lake Stadium here, following widespread chaos at the venue, which prompted the Argentine World Cup-winning captain to leave the field early.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the stadium unrest, Datta was held by the Bidhannagar Police for “mismanagement” of the event from the Kolkata airport, where he had gone to see off Messi and his entourage on their way to Hyderabad.
"We are looking into whether there was any mismanagement from the organiser's side, which led to the chaos at the stadium. He has been detained, and the police have now brought the situation under control," West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar said at a press conference.
A senior police officer later confirmed that Dutta has been arrested. Till reports last received, the police were interrogating him and his manager inside one of the departure lounges of the airport.
The organiser has given in writing that he will refund the prices of tickets he sold to the disappointed spectators, Kumar said.
What was supposed to be a marquee football spectacle turned into widespread violence and disorder at the stadium after Messi’s brief and tightly ring-fenced appearance, his first at the venue since 2011, left large sections of the crowd frustrated, as they failed to catch a glimpse of their superstar despite having travelled from far and wide, paying hefty sums for tickets.
Police said they were also investigating how organisers allowed sale of bottled waters and beverages inside the stadium premises, which are banned items during such events.
Thousands of water bottles were used as missiles and lobbed inside the pitch by angry spectators, who also uprooted bucket seats from the gallery and used them as ammunition inside the field against the defending police and security personnel.
Spectators alleged that water bottles were being sold at a massive premium inside the stadium despite police disallowing such items from outside at the entry gates.
Police agreed there was an underlying tension in the galleries on account of Messi not showing his footballing skills on the field, which only got aggravated after a bunch of VIPs, including State Sports Minister Aroop Biswas and unidentified people, blocked the football icon’s view during the limited time he spent on the ground.
“We are on the job, and will ensure that whoever is responsible for what happened today at Salt Lake Stadium will be punished, and action will be taken against the authorities concerned,” said Jawed Shamim, ADG, Law and Order.
