PANJIM: The replacement exercise of over 400 IRBN personnel posted for poll duty in Uttar Pradesh has snowballed into a major controversy. Improper arrangement to ferry the armed personnel to and fro the poll-bound State, last minute call to IRB platoon in Goa and a threat-like wireless communiqué sent across police stations have led to a chaotic situation.
An early morning wireless message from the Office of Director General of Police I D Shukla kept everyone on their toes. Failing to arrange IRB staff for deployment, could have led to suspension and disciplinary enquiry.
“…DGP informed all …to bring their staff which has been asked to report at Kadamba Plateau IRBN Camp. They will bring personally otherwise they will face suspension immediately. DGP office will wait for half an hour. SDPOs will also (face) departmental enquiry. District SP’s also get displeasure if their action is not implemented. DIG to monitor and report to DGP after one hour,” read the message from the DGP Office.
Earlier in the morning, DGP visited the Ribandar outpost to make sure the replacement of IRBN is successfully executed.
As reported in Herald’s Tuesday edition, after the Indian Railways refused to specially arrange a train for the replacement batch of IRBN personnel, Goa Police had approached the Kadamba Transport Corporation to ply the platoon via road.
Over a dozen seater buses were finally agreed upon, which left with the armed personnel to travel over 1,800 kms to Uttar Pradesh in the evening. Two Deputy Superintendents of Police in their official cars will be accompanying the buses till their last destination.
Ironically, in the entire drama, Goa Police as well as the election office allegedly failed to ensure all had voted. Sources said some from the present batch had not received postal ballot.
The current batches of IRBN who will return via the same mode of transport are not keen to return, courtesy improper handling of the situation by their superiors. “Our enthusiasm has faded. Our colleagues are travelling by road and in that exhaustion; they will carry out their poll duty. Similarly, we are brought back by the same mode of transport. This is not the treatment for our service to the State and the nation,” said a staff amongst the 400-odd IRB personnel expected to return for voting in Goa.
Goa Forward Party on Tuesday slammed the government for giving inhuman treatment to the IPB personnel deployed in Uttar Pradesh for election duty. It said that all this is happening because Chief Minister Pramod Sawant desperately wants 150 to 200 votes for him.
It is learnt that of the nearly 900 personnel deployed in UP, maximum are from Sanquelim constituency and efforts are on to bring them back for postal ballot voting.
